It was a one-goal game, with 15.3 seconds left in the third period and a faceoff in the circle to the left of the Penguins net.
Tampa Bay had a two-skater advantage, thanks to a tripping minor against Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist and Lightning coach Jon Cooper’s decision to replace goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy with an extra attacker.
If Tyler Johnson controlled the draw against Penguins center Nick Bonino, Tampa Bay might have been able to manufacture a goal that would have forced overtime Saturday night.
But even though Bonino didn’t win the faceoff cleanly, he prevented the Lightning from gaining quick possession of the puck and mounting a final bid to force overtime.