Tampa Bay Lightning ends Colorado Avalanche’s title chances

• Lightning defeated Avalanche to scatter their hopes of the title.
• Palat leads the Lightning to the victory with his spectacular performance.
• They will play Game 6 in Tampa on June 27.

Ondrej Palat scored the game-winning goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in Denver to end the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup final chances.

In the final six minutes of the best-of-seven series, the Czech superstar Palat scored a decisive playoff goal to seal a victory and keep the series alive.

Read more: Tampa Bay Lightning advances to Stanley Cup Finals for third time

Colorado could have clinched the championship in front of their home supporters at Denver’s Ball Arena on Friday after a win in Florida handed them a 3-1 series lead.

However, Tampa Bay will have an opportunity to force a game seven when game six of the series returns to their home field on Sunday.

“I thought we played a good game, a great road game — staying on top of it. We just found a way to win,” Palat said afterward.

“A huge win, and now we go back to Tampa.”

Palat’s game-winning goal was the most recent in a string of crucial goals he has scored for the Lightning.

The 31-year-old also scored a game-winning goal in the playoffs of the Eastern Conference against the New York Rangers.

Palat said of his game-winning shot on Friday, “It was a great play, lucky it went in,”

“Right now we feel pretty good. We’re excited to be able to go back before our fans. It’s going to be a great game.”

Jan Rutta’s blast from the right circle snuck past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper in the first period to give the Lightning a 1-0 advantage.

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Rutta, who has scored just 12 times in 238 regular-season games and two postseason goals prior to Friday, scored a rare goal.

Valeri Nichuskin tied the game early in the second period when Andrei Vasilevskiy lost the ball after save a Cale Makar attempt.

The Avs were reduced to only three players on the ice due to consecutive penalties, but Tampa Bay rallied magnificently to punish Colorado.

Nikita Kucherov scored a one-timer to put Tampa Bay ahead 2-1.

Colorado appeared increasingly irritated by Tampa Bay’s unrelenting aggressiveness, but early in the third quarter, they broke through Tampa Bay’s strong defense.

Makar’s long-range shot deflected off the skate of Tampa Bay defenseman Erik Cernak and beat Vasilevskiy to tie the game at 2-2.

Read more: Stanley Cup: Avalanche thrashes Lightning to move one win closer to title

Ondrej Palat scored twice to give Tampa Bay the lead, leaving Denver’s home fans astonished.

Both teams will now face each other in Game 6 on June 27 in Tampa.