Colton scores game-winner with seconds to spare; Lightning take 2-0 series lead

The Tampa Bay Lightning looked to take a 2-0 series lead on Thursday night against the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of their second round series.

Throughout the game, the Lightning had four players go down hurt after blocking a shot. Those players were Erik Cernak, Mikhail Sergachev, Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel. Fortunately for head coach Jon Cooper, all four players returned to the game.

Tampa Bay got the scoring started on the power play just over twelve minutes into the first period. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos passed the puck towards the net where Corey Perry tipped it in to make it 1-0.

A perfectly placed Corey Perry tip to open the scoring. 🏒 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/CvF52cEKcP
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/3EVKuxYLLQ pic.twitter.com/lPc8cGReER— NHL (@NHL) May 19, 2022

With less than two minutes remaining in the second period, Panthers defenceman Eetu Luostarinen squeaked a shot through Andrei Vasilevskiy for his first of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs to tie things at 1-1.

All even in Florida. 👀#StanleyCup | #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/srmz7CJ0Jl— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2022

Late in the third period, with the game destined to head to overtime, Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov made a brilliant pass from behind the net to Ross Colton, who was alone in front, and he buried it with less than four seconds remaining to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. The Lightning will now head home with a 2-0 series lead.

ROSS COLTON ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 🤯#StanleyCup | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/JKq5wG3kK9— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2022

The series will now shift to Tampa Bay where the teams will play in a rare Stanley Cup Playoff back-to-back on Sunday and Monday. Puck drop for Game 3 on Sunday is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet in Canada and TNT in the United States.

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