CALGARY, Alberta _ The Lightning did it again. Tampa Bay pulled off another comeback to beat Calgary 5-4 in a shootout on Thursday night.
The Flames took a 3-1 lead in the first period, but that doesn't mean much to this Lightning team. Tampa Bay scored three straight to take the lead, though it didn't last either.
In the end, not even overtime was enough to decide this one between two of the top teams in the NHL. It took seven rounds, but J.T. Miller finally scored in the shootout.
Dan Girardi had given the Lightning the lead with 4:25 left in regulation. His slap shot from the point got through to beat goaltender David Rittich top shelf.
Then Johnny Gaudreau had something to say. He went five-hole on goalie Louis Domingue on a breakaway to tie the score with 2:28 to go.
After the initial 3-1 Flames lead, the Lightning tied it thanks to a two-goal second period, aided by three power plays. Tampa Bay didn't score on the advantage, and actually scored both before the penalties started, but it benefited from Calgary being constantly on the kill to control the period.
First, Steven Stamkos scored, or rather TJ Brodie scored for Stamkos. Adam Erne passed to Stamkos, who sent it right back. But before the puck got to Erne, it deflected off Brodie's stick and into the net, to bring the Lightning back within one goal.
Just 93 seconds later, Alex Killorn tied it up. Ryan McDonagh put a shot on net from the point and stated a scramble in front for the rebound. Yanni Gourde got a stick on it first, but Killorn was the one to send the puck past Rittich.
Domingue gave up three goals in the first period _ one that dribbled through his legs and Sam Bennett followed to the post, and another that Mikael Backlund scored off a weird bounce as Domingue picked up his stick. He settled down after that, though, making 33 saves in the game.
