A rematch of last year's playoffs, as the Tampa Bay Lightning looked to avenge last year's sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets. While vengeance was had, it would require five games to get it done. The Tampa Bay Lightning reversed last year's result and eliminated the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games.
Games
Columbus Blue Jackets - 2
Tampa Bay Lightning - 3 (5OT)
Scoring started early in this one, as a shot by Alexandre Texier pin-balled around, eventually hitting Pierre-Luc Dubois on its way into the net. Tampa would tie the game minutes later, and in a similar manner, as Nikita Kucherov's shot banked off Brayden Point's leg and sneak past Joonas Korpisalo. While the Lightning were leading the way in shots, it was the Blue Jackets who managed to break the tie. Late in the second, the Oliver Bjorkstrand sent a rocket over Andrei Vasilevskiy's shoulder to make it 2-0 Columbus. It didn't take long into the third for Tampa to tie it again. Ryan McDonagh's point shot ended up causing chaos in front of the Columbus net. Yanni Gourde managed to get enough of the rebound to cause the puck to slide into the crease, where Korpisalo ended up inadvertently kicking it into the net. Neither team would find a way to end it in regulation, meaning overtime was needed. The extra frame(s) ended up being the Korpisalo show, as the Columbus goaltender stood strong for what ended up being an extra game-and-a-half of play, setting a modern-day save record in the process with 85 saves. There was some controversy in the 5th OT period, as a streaking Cam Atkinson would hauled down by Victor Hedman, negating a clean breakaway chance. It all came it an end a minute later, as Point's shot went over Korpisalo's shoulder and into the net, ending the fourth-longest OT game in playoff history.
Columbus Blue Jackets - 3
Tampa Bay Lightning - 1
Hoping game three two wouldn't repeat, it didn't start out like it. Tampa would be the ones opening the scoring, as Kucherov - from behind the net - would bank the puck off Korpisalo to make it 1-0. One theme that did cross over from last game was Korpisalo's form, as he stopped everything he could see (the aforementioned Kucherov goal was one he didn't). It took over 12 minutes into the opening frame for the Blue Jackets to register a shot. It didn't take long after that first shot to tie the game though, as Ryan Murray would redirect a pass from Dubois into the net. Columbus would take the lead before the period was over. A powerplay resulted in Bjorkstrand snapping a one-timer past Vasilevskiy to make it a 2-1 game. While Tampa would get the bulk of the chances, it would remain a one-goal game for a while. Midway through the third, a streaking Alexander Wennberg would go around a Lightning defender and lift the puck over Vasilevskiy's pad while falling to make it 3-1 Blue Jackets. Columbus would shut it down from there, holding on for the win and tying the series at a game a piece.
Tampa Bay Lightning - 3
Columbus Blue Jackets - 2
In what was a minor reversal of roles, it was the Blue Jackets taking most the shots. Their best chance came on a 5-on-3, when Emil Benstrom's one-timer hit the outside of the post on what was an open net. Tampa would be the ones to break the deadlock later in the first. Alex Killorn kept the puck on ta 2-on-1 and would slide the puck past Korpisalo to make it 1-0 Lightning. The Blue Jackets tied it early in the second on an odd-man rush of their own, as Riley Nash snapped a shot over Vasilevskiy's glove to tie the game. Tampa would get back to their offense selves, getting a couple goals later in the period (Point on a rebound and Hedman wristing one in from the high slot). Much like the second period, Columbus would get one early in the third. Eric Robinson's first shot would get blocked, but manged to bounce right back to him. He made no mistakes on the second shot, putting into an open cage.
Tampa Bay Lightning - 2
Columbus Blue Jackets - 1
The start of this game looked good for the Blue Jackets, as sustained pressure led to Bjorkstrand putting home a rebound. However, it would get called back as Columbus was determined to have been offside when entering Tampa's zone. With the goal removed, it stayed scoreless for the rest of the period. Things changed in the second, as just 16 seconds in Barclay Goodrow would get enough of a bouncing puck to have it flutter off Korpisalo's blocker an into the net. Minutes later, Gourde would deflect a Kevin Shattenkirk point shot past Korpisalo to double Tampa's lead. Columbus would benefit on a 4-on-4 situation moments later. Dubois' shot from just inside the blueline would hit Vasilevskiy, bounce off Cam Atkinson skating across, and find it's way into the net. Despite the contact, Tampa declines to challenge for goalie interfere. Despite a couple good chances, that was all Columbus could muster for offense. A scoreless third was enough to give Tampa the win, pushing them one game closer to the next round.
Columbus Blue Jackets - 4
Tampa Bay Lightning - 5 (OT)
Tampa would have the best change early on thanks to an during an odd-man rush, but Korpisalo got his glove on Cedric Paquette's shot to stop it. It didn't take long after for Tampa to make amends though. Tyler Johnson would deflect Erik Cernak's point shot over Korpisalo to put the Lightning in the lead. A minute later, Blake Coleman find the back of the net on a rush to double the Lighting lead. Columbus got on the board midway through the first, as Nick Foligno lifted a rebound past Vasilevskiy. A powerplay halfway through the second helped Columbus tie the game. Kevin Stenlund's initial shot would be stopped, but his rebound shot would find a way under Vasilevskiy's pad. Before the period ended, the Blue Jackets would find themselves in the lead, as chaos in front of the Lightning net was enough to allow Wennberg's shot to beat Vasilevskiy before he could get set. The Blue Jackets added to the lead in the third, as a defensive breakdown by the Lighting resulted in Bjorkstrand whacking the puck past a downed Vasilevskiy. It was challenged for goaltending interference, but it was determined that Dubios was pushed into Vasilevskiy by Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergechev, resulting in the goal standing. Tampa would get one back minutes later, thanks to a blast from Shattenkirk. Desperate for a tying goal, the Lightning would find it late in the third. Point's pass to the slot would bounce off Anthony Cirelli's skate and slowly slide into the net. Overtime was once again needed, however unlike last time, it needed five minutes instead of five periods. A poorly handled past by the Columbus defense would result in Kucherov getting the puck and passing it to an open Point. Point proceeded to lift a backhand over Korpisalo, ended the game and the series.
Three Four Thoughts on the Series
- Nothing is wrong with the current playoff overtime format. Anyone who wants it changes hates fun.
- I know the Conn Smythe is awarded to a player in the Final, but maybe an exception can be made? Korpisalo was what made this a close series.
- Seth Jones: human or robot? 65:06 of ice-time for a skater is amazing (and a record!).
- The tweet.
Picture of the Series
When it came to overtime, Brayden always had....a Point
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Highlight of the Series
Yeah, a goal scored in the fifth overtime period deserves this spot.
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