Lightning couldn’t keep up with speedy Penguins
General manager Jim Rutherford felt the need for speed when he redesigned the Pittsburgh Penguins with the objective of making them a more effective playoff team.
His infusion of quickness continued to pay off for the Penguins on Thursday when they relentlessly blitzed the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 to win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 2009.
The Penguins will play the San Jose Sharks in the best-ofseven NHL championship series starting Monday in Pittsburgh.
Role player Bryan Rust scored both Pittsburgh goals, the first one coming on a high-velocity wrist shot set up by Chris Kunitz’s perfect pass. Rust seemed like he was cruising into the slot at Mach 1 when he took the feed and found the top half of the net with his shot.
“(Rust) has done so much for our turnaround,” Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. “His speed is incredible. He’s a huge reason why we are going to the Stanley Cup Final.”
Not even the surprise return of captain Steven Stamkos from a blood clot could save the Lightning. Playing for the first time since March 31, Stamkos played less than a regular shift. He was on the ice in the closing minute with Tampa Bay’s goalie pulled.
He had a dangerous scoring chance late in the second period, firing a shot that leaked past Penguins goalie Matt Murray and slid wide of the net. He played 11 minutes, 55 seconds.
The Penguins outshot the Lightning 39-17, and only Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy’s poised play kept the game close.
In the second period, the Penguins outshot Tampa Bay 21-5. Entering Game 7, Pittsburgh had a 69-shot edge on Tampa Bay in the series.
The Lightning had difficulty handling the Penguins’ speedy forecheckers. They created turnovers, and then the Lightning struggled to contain Pittsburgh forwards who were darting in between Tampa Bay defenders.
The Lightning seemed to learn from last year’s trip to the Stanley Cup Final how to hang in games until they figure out how to win. But they could not pull it off in Game 7.
Jonathan Drouin scored in the second period for Tampa Bay’s lone goal, and Rust broke the tie 30 seconds later.
Given how sharply Vasilevskiy has played as a replacement for injured Ben Bishop, it seemed unfair that the Penguins’ winning goal should be scored on one of his rare mistakes.
The young Russian goalie tried to cover a puck near the side of the net and couldn’t cover it quickly enough. Rust pushed the puck into the net for the game-winner.
It was his fifth goal of the playoffs and third of the series. Four of his goals have come when the Penguins have had the opportunity to eliminate a team.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence right now, and I’m just trying to roll with it,” Rust said.