TAMPA, Fla. — After Sunday’s comeback win from a two-goal deficit, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been rewarded with an all-important Game 5 Wednesday back at Benchmark International Arena.
The puck drops at 7 p.m.
The Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens are in a 2-2 series tie in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.
Brandon Hagel scored two goals in the Bolts’ 3-2 comeback win in Montreal.
Ahead of tonight’s pivotal game, the Lightning have given up 229 goals while scoring 286 for a +57 scoring differential. And if the tight scoring continues, the Canadiens have a 21-7-6 record in one-goal games.
Meanwhile, Hagel has seven goals and one assist over the past 10 games. Though slowed in the postseason this year, Nikita Kucherov has led the Lightning offensively with 44 goals and 86 assists.
Also, goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy carries a 6-3 record versus the Canadiens in the postseason along with a .915 save percentage and one shutout.
Game 6 is scheduled for Friday in Montreal and if necessary, Game 7 would be Sunday back in Tampa.