The Vancouver Canucks will need to wait for another day to learn who they will play in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning forced a Game 7 after they won, 5-4, over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
There was no spectacular game-saving opportunity for Boston goalie Tim Thomas this time around. He helped the Bruins to an early 2-1 lead after Milan Lucic and David Krejci scored in the first period, but the second period had other things in store for him. Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell each scored a power play goal then, the latter with his second goal of the game.
Tampa entered the third period with a 3-2 lead, but it was quickly extended to 4-2 with a Steven Stamkos power play goal. Krejci, though, did his best in the third period when he picked up two goals for a hat trick on the night. Unfortunately for his Bruins, Krejci's best was not enough as Martin St. Louis wedged a fifth Tampa Bay goal in between Krejci's two.
Game 7 will be played Friday, May 27, in Boston at 6:00 p.m. MT.