Penguins Stave Off Late Lightning Rally To Force Decisive Game 7

Evgeni Malkin guaranteed a Game 6 victory and the Pittsburgh Penguins delivered.

The Pens defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 to force a Game 7 at Pittsburgh, which will take place Thursday night.

Jonathan Drouin got the Bolts on the board early in the first period, but the goal was waived off after a review of the play ruled it offsides.

The Penguins used that break to their advantage as Phil Kessel responded with a 5-on-3 power-play goal to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby added goals of their own in the second to give Pittsburgh a commanding 3-0 advantage.

But the Bolts struck in the third period as Hingham, Mass. native Brian Boyle scored two goals to put Tampa Bay back within one.

Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, who rarely was tested in the first two periods, made several key saves. Bryan Rust’s late tally put the game out of reach.

Pittsburgh now looks to win its first Game 7 since the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 to win their third Cup in franchise history.

Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images