The second semifinal meeting between Tampa Bay and the New York Islanders looked to go into overtime when Nikita Kutjerov set the match-winning goal with only eight seconds left of the match.
Tampa Bay came close to deciding several times in the closing seconds of the match but shot after shot was saved by Semjon Varlamov in Islanders goal.
Finally, Ryan McDonagh got a pass to Kucherov who fired the winning shot from one of the technical circles.
- It was a relief to see Kucherov's shot go in, says Victor Hedman.
Through Matt Martin, the Islanders took the lead with 1-0 already in the second minute of the match.
But Victor Hedman equalized just before the first period break.
- It was an important goal for us in the first place, says the Swede.
Hedman got the puck from Barclay Goodrow after technical and dreamed away a shot from the blue line.
Goodrow jumped into the air to release the puck that went in via the post.
- It was not very nice, I just tried to get the puck in.
You take them (the goals) no matter how they come, Hedman says about his goal.
Tampa Bay leads the semifinal series, which is decided in the best of seven games by 2-0.
The teams will meet next time the night before Saturday Swedish time.