PITTSBURGH — The Tampa Bay Lightning are one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup finals.

Jason Garrison’s wrist shot deflected off teammate Tyler Johnson’s back and sailed past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove 53 seconds into overtime to give the Lightning a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday night to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 is Tuesday night in Tampa.

Nikita Kucherov scored twice to boost his postseason total to an NHL-best 11, and Alex Killorn picked up his fifth of the playoffs as the Lightning handed the Penguins consecutive losses for the first time since January.

Brian Dumoulin of Biddeford, Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist scored for the Penguins, who lost for the first time all season when leading after two periods. Fleury made 21 saves in his first start since March.

Fleury played the role of dutiful backup when Coach Mike Sullivan stuck with rookie Matt Murray, even after Fleury recovered from a concussion sustained March 31. Sullivan turned to the franchise’s all-time winningest goaltender for the third period of Game 4 after Murray surrendered four goals, then stayed with Fleury after watching him turn aside all seven shots he faced as the Penguins nearly came all the way back from a 4-0 deficit.

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Back in his customary starting spot for the first time in 52 days, Fleury appeared to be plenty fresh. He sprinted in full gear onto the Consol Energy Center ice for his 100th career playoff appearance and was his usually steady self – including a split save on Johnson in the second period that few of his brethren can make. He was helped by teammates more than willing to get on their bellies. The Penguins blocked 22 shots and continued their series-long dominance in creating pressure at the other end.

Dumoulin gave Pittsburgh the lead with less than a second to go in the first period. His first goal in more than 17 months was set up by a spectacular effort from 5-foot-11 forward Bryan Rust, giving away 7 inches to Victor Hedman yet somehow keeping the Tampa Bay defenseman behind him as he crashed the net. Dumoulin’s rebound beat the clock and gave the Penguins a boost they carried into the next period, when Hornqvist converted a beautiful touch pass from Carl Hagelin to make it 2-0 just 90 seconds in.

The Lightning, as they’ve done all series, counterattacked beautifully.

Killorn drew Tampa Bay within a goal 13:15 into the second on a wrist shot from the left circle. Kucherov tied it 70 seconds later as Pittsburgh’s defense collapsed around Vladislav Namestnikov, who slid the puck cross ice to Kucherov for an easy one-timer.


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