The Tampa Bay Lighting are on the brink of elimination following Game 4's overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Lightning did not trail the entire game until it was all over. Just over 12 minutes into overtime, Avalanche center Nazem Kadri beat Andrei Vasilevskiy for the game-winner, as the Avs took Game 4, 3-2.
With the Lightning facing a must-win situation the rest of the way, there is no room for mistakes. After the tough loss at home, Tampa Bay's captain, Steven Stamkos, put the whole thing into perspective. He also provided a reason for optimism as the series shifts back to Colorado for Game 5 Friday.
"Our group's gunna battle. We just have to win one game."
Steven Stamkos on the @TBLightning loss, how to move forward, going on the road, the mindset of the group and more.
GoBolts postgame ➡️ https://t.co/8eS2lk7XNB pic.twitter.com/CbZsvTaEdu
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) June 23, 2022
“It was a pretty good hockey game both ways, overtime again… We didn't get it done. The feeling sucks right now honestly but the series wasn't won tonight. We know what it feels like to be in their shoes… to win at home, it's… not an easy thing to do. It's a pretty nerve wracking day… For us, we go in, our backs are against the wall… we've done it before in these playoffs and we're going to have to do it again.”
The Lightning have faced elimination in these playoffs. Tampa Bay went on the road in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. The pressure will be on Colorado to close out the series and not come back to Tampa Bay. But this is another animal in and of itself. The Avalanche have clearly looked like the better team in this series so far.
The Lightning have proven they have a lot of heart and grit and cannot be counted out. After all, you don't win back-to-back Stanley Cups a reach a third without being an outstanding hockey team.
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