Time, TV, streaming info on Tampa Bay Lightning's potential Game 5 Stanley Cup clincher vs. Dallas Stars
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in position to capture their first Stanley Cup since 2004 as they play the Dallas Stars in Game 5 Saturday night in the Edmonton, Alberta, bubble.
A win would give them hockey's biggest prize one year after they were part of one of hockey's biggest upsets, swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets after a record-tying 62-win season.
The Lightning took a 3-1 series lead Friday night when Kevin Shattenkirk scored at 6:34 of overtime.
Both teams will have little time to prepare. The NHL has scheduled the first back-to-back nights in the championship round since 2009.
"Both teams are banged up, both teams are tired and you put it behind you as best as you can and you just lay it all on the line," said Stars coach Rick Bowness.
A look at the potential clincher:
What to know about Game 5
Place: Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Time, TV, streaming: 8 p.m. ET, NBC. Streaming at https://www.nbcsports.com/live
"Home" team: Lightning coach Jon Cooper will get the last line change.
How the series got here: The Stars won the opener, then the Lightning won the last three.
Injuries: Dallas' Radek Faska, Ben Bishop and Stephen Johns have yet to play in the final. Blake Comeau has missed the last two games, and Roope Hintz was hurt in Game 4. All five are "unfit to play," Bowness said. Forward Justin Dowling will enter the lineup for the first time this postseason. Lightning center Steven Stamkos, who scored in a brief appearance in Game 3, sat out Game 4 and will do so in Game 5.
What the Lightning need to do
Just keep doing what they've been doing. Stars Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov continue to put up points, Andrei Vasilevskiy is making timely big saves. The power play is clicking. Victor Hedman was an uncharacteristic minus-3 in Game 4, but drew an assist on the game-winner. The Conn Smythe Trophy could go to any of those four.
What the Stars need to do
The Stars played relatively well in Game 4, but ran into penalty trouble again. They disagreed with the call on captain Jamie Benn but will need to stay out of the penalty box. They also need to take advantage when they're on the power play. They had a 4-on-3 advantage early in overtime before Shattenkirk scored. A good sign is that Benn and Tyler Seguin picked up their first points of the final after a line shuffle. Joe Pavelski scored twice Friday to tie Joe Mullen for most goals by a U.S.-born player (60).
Reading material
Shattenkirk goal gives Lightning Game 4 win against the Stars
Fan has great night two days after misunderstanding leads to police call
The last time there were back-to-back nights in the final
Pavelski's goals aren't enough as Stars fall into 3-1 hole
Senators waive Masterton Trophy winner, plan to buy him out
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoffs Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning can clinch against Stars
