Fansided

David Krejci scores late goal to force OT and keep Bruins season alive

By Alicia de Artola

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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David Krejci’s goal in the final minutes of the Lightning-Bruins elimination game kept Boston’s season alive.

Sports can be cruel, but sometimes the universe just wills something good to happen. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, there was cruelty in the final minutes against the Boston Bruins, leading 2-1 and oh so close to a series-clinching victory.

For the Bruins, there was something very, very good.

With 2:33 left in the game, and the series, David Krejci turned the puck into the net to tie up Game 5 and force a do-or-die overtime.

Fortune was on the side of David Krejci and the Bruins late in Game 5

Krejci’s goal was a perfect example of being in the right place at the right time.

Zdeno Chara skidded the puck to the left side onto the waiting stick of Connor Clifton, who put in a hopeful pass towards the left of the goal.

The puck hit the stick of Ondrej Palat and tumbled right into the path of the pouncing Krejci. All he needed to do was strike it true into the gaping net. And he did just that.

The Bruins trail the Lightning in the series 3-1. They won Game 1, 3-2, but were bested in the subsequent three matches. Game 2 ended 4-3 while Game 3 was a nightmare 7-1 loss for Boston. They went on to lose Game 4, 3-1, prompting an elimination scenario in Game 5.

Tampa Bay struck first with a goal from Palat in the second, but the Bruins answered with a power-play goal from David Pastrnak. With seven minutes to play, Anthony Cirelli gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead. It was closing in on desperation time for Boston when Krejci scored his goal.

The two teams went to overtime locked at 2-2. There, either Tampa Bay will overcome the set back and finally put away Boston or the Bruins will complete their comeback and force a Game 6.

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