Palat's third period goal extends the Stanley Cup Final to Game 6

The Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning headed back to Denver on Friday night for Game 5 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. A win for Colorado would see them win their first Stanley Cup since 2001, while a win for Tampa Bay would see the series head back to the Sunshine State for Game 6 on Sunday.

Tampa Bay got two powerplays early on in the first period, but failed to capitalize on either chance. Just over eleven minutes in, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos took a tripping penalty and sent Colorado to their first powerplay of the game, but much like Tampa Bay, they also failed to score.

With less than five minutes remaining in the first period, Lightning defenceman Jan Rutta took a pass in the neutral zone, skated down the right side and blasted a shot past Darcy Keumper's glove to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

It's about drive, it's about power! 😤 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/MtmiMtuyUP
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uGGKH6HypL pic.twitter.com/cH8GiUxkYr— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2022

Just before the end of the first period, Nathan MacKinnon nearly tied the game up at 1-1, but didn't have the angle right and the puck slide through Vasilevskiy's five hole and through the crease. The game remained 1-0 Lightning after 20 minutes.

Nathan MacKinnon just barely misses pic.twitter.com/3jnWnR58ni— Hockey Realm (@hockey_realm) June 25, 2022

Following a questionable icing call early in the second period, the faceoff came back down to the Lightning zone. Off the ensuing draw, Valeri Nichushkin picked up the rebound from Cale Makar's shot and tied the game up at 1-1.

The @Avalanche are up and running courtesy of Valeri Nichushkin! 👀 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/MtmiMtuyUP
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uGGKH6HypL pic.twitter.com/XjGPxCkTxH— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2022

The parade to the penalty box continued shortly after Colorado scored, with three penalties being called in a 31 second span to give the Lightning a 4-on-3 powerplay. On the powerplay, Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov fired home his first of the Stanley Cup Final to give Tampa Bay the 2-1 lead.

Clutch from Kuch. #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/MtmiMtuyUP
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uGGKH6HypL pic.twitter.com/QTc00bJukx— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2022

Early in the third period, Cale Makar threw the puck on net and after a few bounces, the puck slid through Andrei Vasilevskiy's five hole and into the net to tie the game at 2-2.

CALE. MAKAR... tie game. 😳 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/MtmiMtuyUP
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uGGKH6HypL pic.twitter.com/t6BF5g7RXe— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2022

Later in the third period, with just over six minutes remaining, Lightning forward Ondrej Palat is wide open in the slot and shoots it through Darcy Kuemper's five hole and it just barely squeaks in to restore Tampa's one goal lead.

ONDREJ "CLUTCH" PALAT! 🤯⚡️#StanleyCup | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/1x7LFBmhxt— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 25, 2022

Palat's goal would stand as the game-winner, giving the Lightning a 3-2 victory in Game 5. The Tampa Bay Lightning will now go home with a chance to tie up the series, puck drop for Game 6 on Sunday night is set for 8 p.m. ET on CBC, Sportsnet and ABC.

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