To kick off the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Blue Jackets and Lightning would play a really tight game as they needed X overtime periods to decide the winner. In the first period both teams traded opportunities as Pierre-Luc Dubois would open the scoring while on the powerplay to give the Jackets the 1-0 lead, but minutes later Brayden Point would score to tie the game. Then late in the second period Oliver Bjorkstrand would strike for the Jackets to retake the lead, but 23 seconds into the third period Yanni Gourde would score for the Lightning to tie the game and send it to overtime. After four scoreless overtime periods, it would be Brayden Point scoring 10:27 into the fifth overtime to give the Lightning the 3-2 victory and the 1-0 series lead.
This game created history as Joonas Korpisalo set the Playoffs record for most saves in a game with 85 saves on 88 shots on goal.
On the opposite side of the ice Andrei Vasilevskiy would record 61 saves on on 63 shots to pass Nikolai Khabibulin for most saves in a Playoff game in Lightning franchise history.
For Columbus, Seth Jones would also set a record as he would skate a total of 65:06 to record the most minutes played in a Playoff game.
And finally, this game also became the fourth longest game in NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
One thought on “Lightning Outlast Blue Jackets in 5 OT Thriller”