Just last week, the Minnesota Wild executed a last-second scramble for the ages to send their game to overtime thanks to a goal with 0.2 seconds left to play. On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning got in on the fun at the end of the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This time, however, the Lightning got a goal as close to the wire as you can get with just 0.1 seconds to play in the opening frame.
On the power play, the Lightning were blasting away at the Penguins net with the seconds ticking down. Victor Hedman’s final shot got through the Penguins defense and tipped in over Antti Niemi’s outstretched glove for the 2-1 score.
The play was originally called a goal on the ice, even though the green light had come on to signal the end of the period. After a review, there was no doubt Hedman’s blast was a goal.
If Hedman shot that puck a fraction of a second later, it would not have counted. Yes, the goal was that close.
Talk about a game of INCHES.