Avalanche top Lightning in OT in Game 4, extend Stanley Cup Final lead

TAMPA -- Nazem Kadri scored 12:02 into overtime, and the Colorado Avalanche moved to within one victory of their first championship since 2001 with a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on Wednesday.

In his return after missing four games following hand surgery, Kadri cut to the net around Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev on the rush and lifted a shot under Andrei Vasilevskiy's right arm from low in the right face-off circle.

"Sitting here right now it's kind of surreal," Kadri said. "I just was excited to join the team again and be in the dressing room. This is what has I've been working on my whole life pretty much, so it was certainly exciting to get back in the lineup."

Nathan MacKinnon and Andrew Cogliano scored for Colorado, which trailed 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 after the second. Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves.

Anthony Cirelli and Victor Hedman scored, and Vasilevskiy made 35 saves for Tampa Bay, whose eight-game home winning streak ended.

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The Avalanche lead the best-of-7 series 3-1 and can close it out at home in Game 5 on Friday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"It's cool, for sure, but we have to focus on how to get the next one," MacKinnon said. "Home ice has been a big thing for us all season, regular season and the playoffs. We'll use it. For sure, the fans are awesome right now. We'll come out fast and hopefully keep it that way."

Tampa Bay came back from trailing 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. Now it must win three straight elimination games against Colorado to complete its bid to win the Stanley Cup in three consecutive seasons.

"The feeling [stinks] right now, obviously, but the series wasn't won tonight," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. "We know what it feels like to be in their shoes and have a chance obviously to win at home. It's not an easy thing to do. It's a pretty nerve-wracking day.

"For us, our backs are against the wall. We've done it before in these playoffs. We're going to have to do it again."

The Lightning started strong with Cirelli capping a furious opening flurry to give them a 1-0 lead 36 seconds into the game. Kuemper made saves on Ryan McDonagh, Alex Killorn and Brandon Hagel before Erik Cernak's shot from the right circle knocked off his mask and Cirelli put the rebound in for his second goal in as many games.

Though Tampa Bay dominated the first period, outshooting Colorado 17-4, it could not add to its lead against Kuemper, who rebounded from being pulled in the second period of a 6-2 loss in Game 3, when he gave up five goals on 22 shots.

"I thought he did a great job for us," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "That was a hard-fought hockey game. Lots of talk about Vasilevskiy and rightly so, but 'Kemps' was equally good tonight."

MacKinnon tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal 5:17 into the second. He went to the net after passing the puck to Mikko Rantanen in the right circle, and Rantanen's return pass deflected in off MacKinnon's skate in front.

But Hedman put the Lightning back in front 2-1 at 10:42 by finishing off a weaving rush with a backhand from the right circle that went in over Kuemper's right pad.

Cogliano tied it 2-2 at 2:53 of the third period by when Nico Sturm's rebound backhand deflected in off his leg in front.

That set the stage for Kadri to be the hero in overtime. Kuemper started the play by passing the puck ahead to Artturi Lehkonen, and Lehkonen fed Kadri at the offensive blue line, catching the Lightning in the middle of a change.

"It was an extended shift in our zone," Sergachev said. "I couldn't gap up and [Kadri] flew in with a lot of speed, put it under my stick and just put it in the chicken wing on 'Vasy.'"

There was a delayed reaction after Kadri's shot went in because the puck was pinned under the back bar of the net and not immediately visible. Even Kadri wasn't sure it went in.

"I knew I had gotten a pretty good shot off and it might have had a chance," said Kadri, who had two shots on goal in 18:42 of ice time. "I actually thought it was in originally, but then Vasilevskiy kind fooled me there and I thought it maybe [was] pinned between his arm. … It was certainly a few seconds of confusion there, and then I saw everybody bull rush the ice and that's when I knew it was confirmed."

Lightning coach Jon Cooper suggested Kadri's goal should not have counted but did not specify why.

"You're going to see what I mean when you see the winning goal," he said. "My heart breaks for the players because we probably still should be playing."

NHL Hockey Operations issued a statement on Kadri's goal following the game:

"A too many men on the ice penalty is a judgment call that can be made by any of the four on-ice officials. Following the game, Hockey Operations met with the four officials as is their normal protocol. In discussing the winning goal, each of the four officials advised that they did not see a too many men on the ice situation on the play. This call is not subject to video review either by Hockey Ops or the on-ice officials."

NOTES: Kuemper became the first goalie in NHL history to get an assist on an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final. … Cogliano's goal was the first at even strength the Lightning allowed at home since Game 6 of the first round. … Cernak didn't play after blocking MacKinnon's shot off his leg 4:25 into the second period.