Colton scores with 3.8 seconds left, Lightning defeat Panthers in Game 2

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Ross Colton scored with 3.8 seconds remaining to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 2-1 victory against the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.

Tampa Bay leads the best-of 7 series and will host Game 3 on Sunday.
Colton scored on a one-timer from close range off Nikita Kucherov's backhand pass from behind the net.
"When you're on the ice with 'Kuch,' you've got to be ready for anything, and once I saw the puck behind the net, I just went to the front of the net," Colton said. "He's got eyes in the back of his head, as you can see, because I didn't even know that he knew I was there. He gift-wrapped it for me. Luckily it just squeaked under the bar there, but unbelievable play by him."
RELATED: [Complete Panthers vs. Lightning series coverage]
Corey Perry scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 35 saves for the Lightning, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division.
"We're two games closer to where we want to be but we're not there yet," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "I told you this last time in the last series and I'm going to tell you again: Tonight was just one game. We're here to win a series."

Eetu Luostarinen scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves for the Panthers, who won the Presidents' Trophy with the best regular-season record in the NHL (58-18-6) and are the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic.
"Obviously, it's really hard," Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. "It's not easy. It's one of those things that hurts, obviously, but it's a roller-coaster ride that we're in and the sun will come up, wake up and keep playing like we're playing. I really liked our game. I liked most of our game Game 1 (a 4-1 loss). Just a learning experience again against a team that doesn't give you too many openings, and we kind of gave away one there."
Perry gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 12:06 of the first period with his second power-play goal in two games. He tipped Steven Stamkos' pass in the slot high to the glove side.
The Lightning were 1-for-3 on the power play after going 3-for-6 in Game 1. The Panthers were 0-for-4, making them 0-for-7 in the series and 0-for-25 in nine playoff games. Their last power play started with 3:23 left in the third period.
"I liked the early urgency," Brunette said. "You know, they're squeezing it. It's really unbelievable. But I liked the urgency. We had some looks. I thought it was better and it a great opportunity to capitalize there."
A key to Tampa Bay's penalty-killing was its 24 blocked shots, though they came at a price. Stamkos, forward Brandon Hagel and defenseman Erik Cernak each left for the locker room at some point after blocking a shot but returned to the game. Cernak blocked a game-high four.
"That's just the sacrifice at this time of the year," said Stamkos, the Lightning captain. "That's just the expectation of our group, and everyone's doing it no matter the situation in the game. It's contagious. Guys are stepping up, whether it's an amazing penalty kill at the end, blocked shots, taking a hit to make a play. Guys are willing to do that and it's a great trait to have as a team."

Luostarinen tied it 1-1 at 18:07 of the second period when his slap shot from the left circle trickled in between Vasilevskiy's body and his blocker.
Vasilevskiy kept the score tied with a sprawling pad save on Anthony Duclair's one-timer from the right face-off circle with nine seconds left in the second.
Bobrovsky moved across the crease and gloved Ondrej Palat's one-timer from the right face-off dot with 4:03 left in the third period.
"Well, obviously, everybody is disappointed," Bobrovsky said. "It was quiet, but all the guys are pros. Everybody understands that next game is big. We can make a difference in the future, not in the past, and that's it. So we have to stay together again and keep working."
NOTES: Colton scored the second latest go-ahead goal in Lightning playoff history. Tyler Johnson scored with two seconds left in the third period to give them a 2-1 win in Game 3 of the 2015 second round against the Montreal Canadiens. … With forward Brayden Point (lower body) missing a second straight game, Tampa Bay again used 11 forwards and seven defensemen. … Panthers forward Mason Marchment (lower body) missed a fourth consecutive game. … Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe played 19:31 after being a game-time decision with what Brunette called "bumps and bruises."