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5 OTs: Tampa Bay Lightning beat Columbus Blue Jackets in marathon series-opener

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Tampa Bay wins record-tying playoff game Brayden Point's second goal of the game ended the NHL's fourth-longest playoff game in history as Tampa Bay defeated Columbus on Tuesday. (Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

TORONTO — Brayden Point scored midway through a record-tying fifth overtime period Tuesday to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.

It was the fourth-longest game in Stanley Cup history.

The victory gives Tampa Bay a 1-0 series lead in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Conference playoffs, which are being held at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was just the fifth time in NHL playoff history that a game went five overtimes. The last time two NHL teams played a five-overtime playoff game was April 24, 2003, when the Anaheim Mighty Ducks defeated the Dallas Stars 4-3.

The goal was Point’s second of the game. His first-period goal tied the game at 1-1. His shot in the fifth overtime was rifled over the right shoulder of Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who made an NHL-record 85 saves.

The Tampa Bay victory eased the sting of last year’s playoff series, when Columbus swept the Lightning in the first round.

Because of the length of the game, the match between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes was rescheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday.


Cox Media Group

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