Bunting's Last-Minute Goal Ensures Playoff Berth as Penguins Clinch 5-4 Victory Over Lightning | NHL Summary | ESPN

Saturday, April 6th, 2024

With just 5:28 left on the clock during the third period, Michael Bunting netted the decisive goal, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a narrow 5-4 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning and securing a spot in the playoffs for them.

The match saw an unfortunate incident where referee Steve Kozari had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher following a collision with Lightning's defenseman Haydn Fleury, who did not come back to the game afterward.

For Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin made a significant impact by scoring twice and assisting once, with Michael Bunting adding two assists to his crucial goal. Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Bunting were among the goal scorers as well.

Pittsburgh's goaltender, Alex Nedeljkovic, demonstrated his skills by making 30 saves, marking his eighth consecutive game appearance.

This victory extends Pittsburgh's winning streak to four and brings their recent record to an impressive 6-0-2 in the last eight games. They now occupy the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, sharing it with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Although already having clinched a spot in the playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning faced a minor setback with this loss but came from a strong performance in their prior twelve games, having won ten of them.

Steven Stamkos scored twice for Tampa Bay, while Andrei Vasilevskiy managed 23 saves. Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman contributed with three assists each.

Bunting's backhand shot not only marked his 18th goal of the season but also highlighted his value since being traded to the Penguins from Carolina in March.

The Lightning managed to even the score in the third period thanks to goals from Nicholas Paul, Anthony Duclair, and Stamkos. Nevertheless, an early goal by Crosby and Malkin's

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game Stats

Related Links

• Pittsburgh Penguins News & Updates
• Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule & Scores
• Tampa Bay Lightning News & Updates
• Tampa Bay Lightning Schedule & Scores
• NHL News