NHL playoff scores 2016: A solid Game 4 performance has the Lightning right where they need to be

One has to wonder: if the Lightning scored early in Game 3, would they have continued to dominate like they did in Game 4?

Twenty-seven seconds is a pretty slim margin to say that the Lightning dominated early before their first goal, but it was certainly the response they needed after being manhandled in their own building the previous game. In almost a must-win with Game 5 headed back to Pittsburgh, the Lightning did almost everything right -- save letting off the gas in the third period and making for a tense final 15 minutes or so in Tampa Bay.

It was enough to remind everyone across the hockey world that, yes, the Lightning are really good on their own merits, too. Many were starting to count them out after the overpowering Penguins performance in Game 3, and even yours truly had some doubts. Yet, the Lightning were able to make the necessary adjustments -- something the Blues in the Western Conference Final have not done -- and hold on for the series-saving win.

Going down 3-1 with the series heading back to Pittsburgh would have been absolutely disastrous for the Lightning, and though they didn't play a full game, the win is absolutely a step in the right direction for Tampa Bay. The pressure is still there for the Lightning -- the Penguins have yet to lose consecutive games since January -- but they halted the bleeding long enough to get their legs back under them.

Game 4 was a good start. It's hard to say that the Lightning are better than the Penguins on paper, but if they keep playing the way they did in the first two periods of Game 4, they look just as unstoppable as Pittsburgh has.

Lightning 4, Penguins 3

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1. Friendly fire was rampant on both sides.

Tyler Johnson had a pretty rough night with his headgear. First, the forward got whacked in the face with a puck during warmups, as a teammate's shot ricocheted off the pipe and hit him square in the mouth.

Here's a look at Johnson taking a puck to the face during warmups pic.twitter.com/9mUP2rgH6L

— Jeremy Houghtaling (@JGHoughtaling) May 20, 2016

Johnson was missing from the lineup and the ice until after Ryan Callahan's opening goal, but reemerged with a full cage to protect his face.

pic.twitter.com/GoroY5UfXd

— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 21, 2016

However, it was clear by the way he was skating that the cage was affecting his vision, and he later reappeared with a full shield.

pic.twitter.com/XzZhynWeBO

— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 21, 2016

Then, Matt Murray took a hit from Brian Dumoulin that ended the first period. It was a really bad night for friendly fire.

2. We saw our first appearance of Marc-Andre Fleury!

The Penguins' usual starting netminder has been absent from the playoffs due to a combination of injury and the remarkable play of Murray, but Fleury got to stretch his legs in the loss. Though Fleury's insertion in the start of the third period had nothing to do with the Penguins making a furious comeback in the game's final minutes, was it enough to knock the stellar Murray from the net for the rest of the series? The better question: will Mike Sullivan pull a Ken Hitchcock even though neither goaltender was the problem in their respective big losses?

3. Ryan Callahan played his best game of the playoffs.

Exhibits: He scored the opening goal.

He knocked Evgeni Malkin -- who has several inches on the Lightning forward -- over through sheer willpower.

Take a seat. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/D666HHELjp

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 21, 2016

And his four hits and five shots were tied for the most in both categories on his team in the victory. Not bad.

The Penguins could be missing Trevor Daley for a while after he injured his knee on a routine hockey check from Callahan. The defenseman never returned to the game and Sullivan called the injury one of the lower body variety with no news on how long he'd be out for, though reports saw him leaving the arena on crutches with a cast on his foot.

Remember Tony, AKA @soloucity on Twitter, who fell in love with hockey during the Blues/Blackhawks Game 7? We're dedicating a section in our recaps to the gems of his Twitter account during the playoffs.

when ur down 3 goals but u realize thats the worst lead they can have pic.twitter.com/5Li4GigLEL

— Tony X. (@soIoucity) May 21, 2016

#TBLightning Jonathan Drouin goals scored

2016 Playoffs: 4 (14 GP)
2015-16 Regular Season: 4 (21 GP)

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 21, 2016