The Tampa Bay Lightning face possible elimination Friday after another poor playoff performance on home ice in Game 5 Wednesday.

Jon Cooper on tonight’s #GoBolts loss

“Did I think we had our best game? We clearly did not. Is it really disappointing to come home and lose? It is. This is something we should take a ton of pride in and dig our heels in and not accept. Now, listen, we had some chances to tie…

— Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) April 30, 2026

In a series that was remarkably even through the first four games, the Lightning had a chance to seize the momentum in front of a raucous home crowd of 19,092 at Benchmark International Arena.

That did not happen.

— NHL (@NHL) April 30, 2026

Andrei Vasilevskiy, winner of two Stanley Cups, a Veniza Trophy, and a Conn Smythe, has been outplayed by 24 year-old rookie Jakob Dobes in his first ever post season action.

Dobes had 38 saves in Game 5 and Montreal is one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since losing to the…