Florlida took a 2-0 lead and then it went back and forth: 3-2, 3-4,4-5 and with five minutes left, Jevgenij Malkin made it 6-5 for Pittsburgh only to see Carter Verhaeghe make it 6-6 for Florida and force overtime.
In game four on three, Malkin passed sideways and Kris Letang, returning from burying his father in Canada and being away for 15 days, made it 7-6 and the roof lifted in the arena.
- It was a bit surreal, you know?
I didn't know what to think or how it would go.
These guys supported me for the past month.
It's just great to be back, Letang told the NHL's website.
"There was no structure"
It was a match that could not be grasped.
The goals just came crashing in.
- Yes, my God, what a match it was.
At first it felt like everything bounced wrong and then everything bounced right.
There was no structure, we just chased back and forth all the time, says Rakell to Aftonbladet.
He made the 1-2 reduction.
The victory was especially important for Pittsburgh, which is being chased by Florida in order to reach one of the coveted playoff spots in the spring.
- It was a tough way to lose a hockey game.
It was just over, says Florida coach Paul Maurice to the NHL.