Tampa Bay Lightning win the fourth longest game in NHL history in a fifth overtime

It took over ninety minutes of overtime before the Tampa Bay Lightning ended the fourth longest game in NHL history.

Game 1 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets started at 3 PM EST, and it didn’t end at 9:24 PM after the game went to a fifth overtime

Brayden Point scored his second goal of the game 10:27 of the fifth overtime to finally end what will go down in history as the most bizarre game in the most strange circumstances imaginable. It took 90:27 of just extra overtime to finally have the winner be scored, the equivalent of over a regulation game and a half.

This was the fourth longest game in NHL history, the longest since 2000 when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins took 92:01 to settle Game 4 of their second round series. The last game before this to even reach a triple overtime was Game 4 between the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks in 2016.

The game took so long, the NHL had no choice but to postpone the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins Game 1 that was supposed to take place in that arena at 8 PM until tomorrow.

Blue Jackets goalie Jonas Korpisalo broke the NHL record for most saves made in an NHL game with 85 saves on 88 shots, breaking the previous of record of 73 saves on 75 shots set by Kelly Hurdey in 1987. There is nothing more the poor guy could’ve done, and still it wasn’t enough to get them the win.

Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones played 65 minutes, over a full regulation NHL game, and he wasn’t even the only one. His partner Zach Werenski played 61 minutes alongside him. This was the Blue Jackets 4th game in 6 days, and their third overtime game in that span.

Keep in mind, this was the first game of a potential seven game series. These guys are all going to have to come back and play Game 2 on Thursday after all setting personal records for ice time. If this first game was any indication, this series will be a treat.