Game Two final score: Lightning 3, Stars 2
Series tied 1-1

By Nathan Tucker
nrtucker@lc.edu

A blistering first period for the Tampa Bay Lightning propelled them to a victory that leveled the Stanley Cup Final Monday night. After three Lightning goals in the first period, the Dallas Stars scored in the second and third, but fell short, 3-2.

It was a rough start for the game one-winning Stars, as Tampa completely dominated the first period of game two. They controlled every facet of the opening frame, outshooting Dallas 14-6 and taking advantage of opportunities on the power play, converting two of three chances and taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

Dallas’s hope came from their physical play that started to pay off more as the game wore on. After a blistering first period, Tampa’s energy waned, and Dallas made inroads through the Lightning defense. A goal in the second on the power play from Joe Pavelski, and another in the third from Mattias Janmark put the Stars right back in the game for the final stretch of game two.

“He’s huge. He comes up at big moments,” Stars alternate captain Tyler Seguin said of Pavelski on NBC Sports Network during the second intermission. “It’s not the first time when we’ve been down in the game, and he scored a big goal to rally a comeback.”

Dallas’s efforts fell just short of staging the grand comeback. Dallas was strong all game, but Tampa’s first period was simply too much to catch up with. 

Tampa goal scorers:
Brayden Point (10th of Playoffs)
Ondrej Palat (9)
Kevin Shattenkirk (2)

Dallas goal scorers:
Joe Pavelski (10)
Mattias Janmark (1)