Tampa Bay forces a Game 6 after victory in Denver
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- It was not the massive celebration in Denver that most expected following Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Instead of the Colorado Avalanche winning the series at home, the Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled the party by winning 3-2.
The series now heads back to Tampa Bay, with the Avalanche still leading 3-2 overall.
Colorado never had a lead in Game 5.
Early in the game, the Avalanche trailed 1-0 after a goal by Tampa Bay's Jan Rutta.
Valeri Nichushkin tied the game at 1-1 with a goal a few minutes into the second period.
Four minutes later, Nikita Kucherov would put Tampa Bay back on top 2-1.
Cale Makar would tie it up 2-2 early in the third period with a goal that slipped through the legs of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Makar would leave the game mid-way through the third period with what appeared to be a leg injury.
With under seven minutes to play, Ondrej Palat would put the Lightning ahead 3-2, and a costly penalty against the Avalanche in the final minutes for having too many players on the ice helped to seal the victory for Tampa Bay.
The Colorado Avalanche went into Friday night's game with three wins under their belt. They won Game One and Game Two at Ball Arena in Denver before losing to the Tamp Bay Lightning in Florida for Game Three.
However, during Game Four, Nazem Kadri scored at 12:02 of the extra period to give the Avs a 3-2 victory. That win, however, sparked slight controversy.
The two-time defending champion Lightning felt Colorado had too many men on the ice just ahead of the final score. Lightning Coach Jon Cooper suggested the game-winning goal shouldn't have been allowed.
The National Hockey League released a statement that said hockey operations staff met with the four officials after the game per usual and “each of the four officials advised that they did not see too many men on the ice situation on the play.”
The league said a too many men penalty is a judgment call, and the situation is not subject to video review.
The last time the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup was in 2001.
