The Tampa Bay Lightning held their destiny in their hands as they headed into the final game of the regular season. After a heart-pounding shutout victory over the Boston Bruins, the Lightning could clinch the Atlantic Division by emerging victoriously in their final two games of the season.
The Bolts were victorious over the Buffalo Sabres, but they were dealt a 3-2 overtime loss by the Carolina Hurricanes. This took the Lightning’s destiny out of their hands and into the hands of an all-too-familiar foe, the Lightning’s in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers.