Lightning vs. Stars Game 5: Corey Perry’s double-OT goal keeps Dallas’ Stanley Cup dreams alive

The 2019-20 NHL season never wants to end.

It has been more than 365 days since training camp and preseason games got underway, and now there will be at least one more game to play.

In the second overtime of Saturday night’s Game 5 thriller, Corey Perry knocked the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy to give the Stars a 3-2 victory and keep the 2020 Stanley Cup Final rolling along.

“Stanley Cup Final. It was do-or-die for us tonight and I thought our team game was pretty good,” said Perry. “We had a lot of guys that, they’re in the fight and that’s what we’re asking for. I scored the winner but it could have been anybody and that’s what we’re asking of everybody.”

Perry, who won the Cup in 2007 with the Ducks, potted two goals in the game. He now has five in the postseason and is the eighth player in NHL history to score in both ends of a Stanley Cup Final back-to-back.

“We get to this point in the playoffs, you need some experience, you need guys that have been there and are not intimated by the situation we’re in and Corey Perry is certainly one of those guys,” said head coach Rick Bowness regarding the Dallas offseason signee. “Huge addition to our team. So regardless what happens in the regular season, it doesn’t mean anything; you get into the playoffs, you need the guys that know how to win.

“You need the guys that have been there before, are not intimidated by the situation and the surroundings and Corey fits that bill. He’s a huge, huge part of our team.”

Perry wasn’t the only one to score on consecutive nights; teammate Joe Pavelski did, as well becoming the ninth guy in NHL history to do so. His goal in the third period, which tied the game 2-2, was also his 61st career postseason marker, setting a record for American-born players as the Wisconsinite supplanted New York City’s Joe Mullen atop the leaderboard. Ex-Star Mike Modano is third with 58 goals. The 36-year-old also had a massive block in the first overtime to keep the Lightning from winning the Stanley Cup.

“I think we enjoy being called underdogs and every person — really, this whole time we’ve been in the bubble — seeming to choose the other team we’re playing [to win],” noted Dallas forward Tyler Seguin. “We relish that. We believe in each other. We got a confident group and we don’t want to leave the bubble, so we’re having fun.”

Tampa Bay took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 4 less than 24 hours earlier on a Kevin Shattenkirk power-play goal. The Game 5 loss isn’t surprising, however, considering the Lightning entered Saturday with an 0-2 all-time record in Stanley Cup Final Game 5s. 

Game 6 is set for Monday at 8 p.m. ET (NBC/Sportsnet/CBC).

Sporting News had all the action as the Stars staved off elimination and kept their Stanley Cup dreams alive.

(All times Eastern)

Final: Stars 3, Lightning 2 (2 OTs) Second overtime: Stars 3, Lightning 2

11:59 p.m. — Checked for offside, but it’s a good goal.

11:58 p.m. — GOAL. Corey Perry gets a rebound and then puts his second chance at the puck behind Vasilevskiy. Stars win 3-2.

11:54 p.m. — So, there are 13 minutes left in this overtime session and the shots on goal are 38 for the Lightning and 30 for the Stars — for the entire game!

11:49 p.m. — Gurianov drives to the net as he gets behind the Bolts defense but can’t connect and slams into the boards.

11:45 p.m. — Here we go. Double overtime is here.

First overtime: Lightning 2, Stars 2

11:29 p.m. — We head to DOUBLE OVERTIME!! By the way, Stars had one (!) shot on net in the extra frame; Lightning had seven.

If that doesn’t sum up how dominating the Bolts were — they had an 80.65 CF% and 83.33 SCF% ( per Natural Stat Trick ).

11:28 p.m. — Puck bounces around the Stars’ crease but Corey Perry clears it. 

11:23 p.m. — Missed call by the linesmen as they called icing despite the puck hitting Vasilevskiy’s pad, although it didn’t impact the course of the game.

11:19 p.m. — Tyler Johnson comes close. A replay would later show the puck went off the knob of Khudobin’s stick.

11:16 p.m. — Now 6:32 left in this overtime and the Stars don’t have a shot on goal.

11:14 p.m. — Pavelski with a big-time block right off the right hand. The 36-year-old knows he may not get another chance at sipping out of the Stanley Cup and he does not want bubble hockey to end.

11:13 p.m. — Jamie Benn wide-open in the high slot and he shoots it high and wide.

11:13 p.m. — Ryan McDonagh got crushed and went awkwardly into the boards.

11:12 p.m. — Halfway through the overtime session and the Lightning have four shots . . . the Stars have zero.

10:58 p.m. — Jason Dickinson blocks a shot and he’s in a bit of pain.

10:56 p.m. — OVERTIME!!!

Third period: Lightning 2, Stars 2

10:41 p.m. — OVERTIME!!!

10:38 p.m. — Final minute of regulation.

10:31 p.m. — Anthony Cirelli hits the pipe.

10:28 p.m — Joe Pavelski’s goal is the 61st playoff tally of his career. He is now No. 1 among American-born player in postseason goals.

10:27 p.m. — GOAL. Joe Pavelski on the doorstep digs up the loose puck and buries it. That’s his 13th goal of the postseason.  Game tied 2-2.

10:26 p.m. — Vasilevskiy with a good stop despite Perry being right in front.

10:22 p.m. — Stars head to the power play with just under nine minutes left in regulation. They do not score.

10:10 p.m. — Vasilevskiy stones Heiskanen from the slot.

10:07 p.m. — GOAL. Brayden Point carries the puck in, pulls up and feeds Mikhail Sergachev at the point. He fires the puck past a few bodies — including the goalie — to get Tampa Bay the lead. Lightning lead 2-1. 

10:04 p.m. — Stars’ fourth line controls the puck deep and gets a couple of chances. 

10:01 p.m. — Final period of regulation has begun. Sekera is back on the bench for Dallas.

Second period: Lightning 1, Stars 1

9:37 p.m. — Hedman was on the ice for three minutes — that’s three minutes consecutively.

9:29 p.m. — Stars get a power play. Update:  They do not score.

9:15 p.m. — GOAL. Ondrej Palat with a masterful goal as he goes around Esa Lindell and tucks the puck past Khudobin. Game tied 1-1.

9:09 p.m. — A wide-open Perry is robbed by Vasilevskiy right in front. The 2007 Stanley Cup champion can’t believe he didn’t score.

9:07 p.m. — Middle frame is a go. Still no Sekera for the Stars, so they have just five D.

Some fancy stats from the first period courtesy of Natural Stat Trick :

First period: Stars 1, Lightning 0

8:48 p.m. — Waning seconds of the period and Khudobin with a monster blocker save on Nikita Kucherov’s shot off the right wing.

8:45 p.m. — Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was shaken up earlier by an Alexander Radulov reverse hit and couldn’t get back into position to stop Perry.

8:45 p.m. — GOAL. Corey Perry skates right through the middle and beats Vasilevskiy.  Stars lead 1-0.

8:38 p.m. — Not good for the Stars as defenseman Andrej Sekera is being shown walking gingerly to the locker room. He blocked a shot right off the inside of his knee and limped off the ice.

8:31 p.m. — Tampa Bay now 0 for 1 with the man advantage.

8:28 p.m. — Tyler Seguin called for a high-stick as he nails Brayden Point on the side of the face on an offensive zone faceoff. Lightning’s power play has been — dare we say — on point as of late. They were 3 for 4 in Game 4, including the game-winner. 

8:27 p.m. — Both teams exchanging chances.

8:21 p.m. — Game on.

Pregame

8:06 p.m. — Stars fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Jason Dickinson is in the lineup as is Justin Dowling. 

8 p.m. — Dallas may be without another key cog.

8 p.m. — As told earlier, the Lightning will be without captain Steven Stamkos . We may see him tonight on the ice — but it would be after the final horn sounds.