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Colton, Lightning stun Panthers with score in final seconds, take 2-0 series lead

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy totaled 35 saves in a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series Thursday in Sunrise, Fla. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy totaled 35 saves in a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series Thursday in Sunrise, Fla. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

May 20 (UPI) -- Center Ross Colton smacked in a point-blank range shot in the final seconds to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a dramatic 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.

The one-timer score came with just four seconds remaining in the game Thursday at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

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"I knew there was less than a minute left, so I was trying to end the game and not get scored on," Colton told reporters. "I was trying to sit back and let the plays come to us."

The Lightning now own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven game Eastern Conference semifinals series. Game 3 will be Sunday in Tampa, Fla.

"It's a good challenge for us," Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky said. "We've been fighting the whole year and found a way to come back from some adversity. This is another test for us."

Lightning right wing Corey Perry beat Bobrovsky for the first score of the night 12:06 into the game. The Panthers tied the score when center Eetu Luostarinen lit the lamp with just 1:53 remaining in the second.

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The teams looked headed for overtime as they couldn't net a score for nearly the entire third period. Colton then played hero in the final seconds of the frame.

Left wing Ondrej Palat started the sequence when he fired the puck down the right boards. Right wing Nikita Kucherov pursued the puck, which bounced off the board behind the net. He then flicked a blind, backward pass, which went right in front of the net.

Colton skated into the area and smacked a backhanded shot past Bobrovsky on his stick side.

Bobrovsky totaled 26 saves in the loss. Lightning net minder Andrei Vasilevskiy logged 35 saves.

"We will turn the page on this one and enjoy it while we can," Colton said. "We know they are going to come out flying on the road, just like you saw. We have to find a way to match that energy."

Game 3 of the series will be at 1:30 p.m. EDT Sunday at Amalie Arena. Game 4 also will be in Tampa. Game 5, if necessary, will be Wednesday in Sunrise.

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