The Lightning, looking to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup final, got off to an ideal start with Vinny Lecavalier's goal. The center got his eighth goal of the playoffs off a turnover, beating Robert Esche high from the right circle just 1:28 in. Ruslan Fedotenko prevented a Flyers threat less than two minutes later, clearing the puck from near the goalmouth after a scramble.
Philadelphia tied it at 7:23 as Simon Gagne went high to beat Nikolai Khabibulin. Fedotenko and defenseman Pavel Kubina could not clear the puck, and Keith Primeau got in Kubina's way, making sure he didn't get a second chance.
Seconds later, Khabibulin stopped a slap shot from defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who made only his second appearance of the playoffs.
The Flyers took the lead with 2:59 left. Primeau didn't get all of it, but the shot skidded beneath Khabibulin.
THE POSITIVE: The Lightning neutralized a Flyers power play after Dave Andreychuk went off for slashing with 7:30 left. Tampa Bay cleared the puck out of the zone three times and didn't allow a shot.
THE NEGATIVE: It was the second time in the series Tampa Bay scored the first goal only to give up the next two.
KEY PLAY: Vladimir Malakhov stole a pass up the middle by Darryl Sydor and quickly passed to Primeau, who was waiting to the right of the net to score.KEY PLAYER: Primeau once again was the biggest problem the Lightning faced, using himself as a shield on the first goal and scoring the second.
Period 2: Outburst produces a lead
The Lightning bounced back to tie it twice then took the lead back thanks to a couple of turnovers and a careless penalty.
Tampa Bay again got off to a fast start as Vinny Lecavalier tied it 45 seconds in. Robert Esche got a piece of Lecavalier's shot from above the left circle, but it got past him.
The Flyers took the lead back on Sami Kapanen's goal with 7:18 left, but they kept it for less than three minutes. Ruslan Fedotenko tied it with 4:45 left off of a pass by Dave Andreychuk from behind the net.
The Lightning got its first power-play chance of the game with 2:47 left on Danny Markov's unnecessary high sticking penalty. Fedotenko and Andreychuk teamed 20 seconds later for another goal, with the captain, again from behind the net, finding the former Flyer in traffic in the right circle. Fedotenko beat Esche high to give the Lightning a 4-3 lead.
THE POSITIVE: Tampa Bay came out with aggression and had the first seven shots after the Flyers dominated a large portion of the first.
THE NEGATIVE: Right after taking the lead, the Lightning allowed a couple of chances, including one from in close on which Simon Gagne shot wide right.
KEY PLAY: Martin St. Louis worked along the boards to strip Kapanen of the puck then passed to Andreychuk, setting up the tying goal.
KEY PLAYER: Fedotenko continues to damage his former team. He has five goals in the series, and his go-ahead goal was the Lightning's sixth on the power play in the past three games.
Period 3: 1:49 away, but ...
The Flyers were more aggressive throughout and finally made the Lightning pay for it with 1:49 left as Keith Primeau's goal tied it at 4 and forced overtime.
Philadelphia picked up its forecheck early, and Brad Richards responded, blocking a wraparound try early. The Lightning had a three-on-two with 12:25 left but did not get off a clean shot.
Fredrik Modin had an opportunity with 9:36 left after forcing a turnover, but his shot was snapped over the crossbar.
Nikolai Khabibulin came up big a few times. He stuffed Michal Handzus on a wraparound with 4:20 left.
But the Flyers finally cashed in after a Lightning turnover along the boards in its defensive zone. Khabibulin stopped Mattias Timander's slap shot, but Primeau picked up the rebound and put it in to tie it.
THE POSITIVE: Khabibulin was solid throughout, and he stuffed several chances.
THE NEGATIVE: The Lightning was outplayed most of the way and gave up too many quality chances.
KEY PLAY: Primeau's goal took away the Lightning's momentum with the team 1:45 away from its first Stanley Cup final.
KEY PLAYER: Primeau, again. He was all over the ice, and his persistence extended Philadelphia's season.
Overtime: Flyers finally convert
Once again, the Lightning allowed the Flyers to take the game over and get the vast majority of the scoring chances.
The Flyers had the first four shots. The Lightning trapped the puck in the offensive zone seven minutes in, but neither of their shots found the net.
Defenseman Darryl Sydor poked away a possible scoring chance by Jeremy Roenick 11 minutes in. Then Nolan Pratt dived near the net to deny Simon Gagne. At that point, the Flyers led 5-0 in scoring chances.
The Flyers continued to win most of the big faceoffs and keep the puck in their offensive zone more often than not. Philadelphia got one chance too many for Tampa Bay's taste as Gagne poked in a rebound with 1:42 left to win 5-4 and force Game 7.
THE POSITIVE: Lightning players continued to dive in front of numerous shots. The play was free flowing, and there were few whistles.
THE NEGATIVE: The Lightning failed for the first time in its history to close out an opponent when it had a chance.
KEY PLAY: Roenick's shot from the left of the net was deflected by a couple of skates. Gagne picked up the rebound and put it past Khabibulin for the winner.
KEY PLAYER: Gagne was denied a couple of chances and was dangerous throughout. His goal sent the series back to the St. Pete Times Forum for Saturday's Game 7, the first in Lightning history.
