Lightning vs. Penguins: Game 5 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2016 NHL Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Lightning are one victory away from winning another Eastern Conference title thanks to Tyler Johnson's game-winner in overtime, which gave the Lightning a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the conference final Sunday.

Tampa Bay came back from a 2-0 deficit early in the second period, only to see the Penguins retake the lead late in the frame. Nikita Kucherov scored his second goal of the night with just over three minutes left in regulation to tie the game, and a Jason Garrison wrist shot deflected off Johnson to end it in overtime.

The Lightning celebrated as the team seized a 3-2 advantage in the series:

ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy was also elated by the result:

Marc-Andre Fleury replaced Matt Murray in net for the Penguins and recorded 21 saves, while Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was in for the injured Ben Bishop (leg), recorded 31 saves and allowed only one goal in the final 38 minutes, 30 seconds of regulation.

Much like they did in Game 2, the Penguins got off to a hot start Sunday. Brian Dumoulin scored his first goal of the postseason with 0.7 seconds left in the first period to give Pittsburgh the lead.

Bryan Rust had a breakaway opportunity with Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman breathing down his neck. Although Vasilevskiy thwarted the initial scoring chance, Dumoulin was there to clean up.

This postseason has turned into a showcase of the Penguins' depth, as ESPN.com's Scott Burnside noted:

The Penguins then grabbed a two-goal lead thanks to Patric Hornqvist, who scored 1:30 into the second period.

Hornqvist's seventh playoff goal not only excited the Penguins, but it also got their newest fan, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, out of his seat, as the team showed:

But the script in Game 2 involved the Lightning getting back into the game, which they did again Sunday. Two goals by Alex Killorn and Kucherov, respectively, in the span of 1:10 midway through the second period evened the game at 2-2.

Kucherov's equalizer was his first goal since May 8, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Erik Erlendsson, formerly of the Tampa Tribune, thought the same:

The assist from Vladislav Namestnikov was his first point since Game 3 of the second round, per Bryan Burns of the Lightning's official website.

With time running down in the second frame, Chris Kunitz recorded his second point of the night on a goal with 50 seconds left to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead.

Tampa Bay went on the attack for most of the third period, and it paid off late.

First, Ryan Callahan seemingly scored the game-tying goal. The light went off, the Lightning celebrated and even play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick thought it went in.

A replay review showed that the puck did not cross the line, though.

Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports felt that Fleury was lucky:

A little more than a minute later, Kucherov made sure the puck crossed the line. His goal with 3:16 remaining tied the game at 3-3.

The Lightning were elated after their leading goal scorer struck again:

With new life, the Lightning pounced quickly to end the game in overtime. Garrison's snipe went off the back of Johnson and deflected into the net, giving Tampa Bay a chance to close the series at home Tuesday.

Blowing leads has been the norm for Pittsburgh in the postseason, and the trend continued at the worst possible time Sunday. As a result, the resilient Lightning are one win away from heading back to the Stanley Cup Final with their backup goalie in tow.

Postgame Reaction

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was very confident his team would make a charge after falling behind two goals, per Burns:

Kucherov said Tampa Bay had to settle down and play the way it's accustomed to. 

"When we were down, we just tried to play our game," he said, per Burns. "We have a lot of character in this room."

Cooper also noted it was the play of his young goaltender that made a difference, especially after a crucial save late in the third, per Burns:

The Penguins could've avoided this overtime loss had they allowed one fewer goal, and Fleury thinks the initial one he gave up from Alex Killorn was not his best.

"I should have been better, especially on that first goal," Fleury said, per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. "That was stupid."

In a must-win situation Tuesday, the only thing certain is Fleury and his teammates need to forget what happened Sunday.

"In the playoffs you have a short memory," Fleury said, per Michelle Crechiolo of Pens Inside Scoop. "When you lose you just have to focus on the next one and be ready for that one."

As for that do-or-die game, Hornqvist sees a return to Pittsburgh in his future.

"There is no doubt in my mind," he said, per Sam Kasan of Pens Inside Scoop, "that we'll come back here for Game 7."