Calgary, Alberta ? The Tampa Bay Lightning were as good as guaranteed.

Martin St. Louis, a onetime Calgary reject, knocked in a rebound in the opening seconds of the second overtime and the Lightning forced a decisive Game 7 in the Stanley Cup finals by beating the stunned Calgary Flames, 3-2, Saturday night.

Brad Richards scored two power-play goals in regulation — almost a sure sign the Lightning would win. Tampa Bay is 31-0-2 overall and 9-0 in the playoffs when Richards scores.

Breaking an entire city’s heart for at least two nights — and the hearts of millions more in hockey-loving Canada — the Lightning now go home for a game the Flames were determined not to play. Not with the possible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win the Cup at home and a chance to become one of the most improbable champions in NHL history.

The Lightning won it when Tim Taylor jumped on the puck at the blue line and shot it on net. The rebound went directly to St. Louis, who ended it 33 seconds into the second overtime.

“I was just trying to get as much of the puck as I could,” said St. Louis, who also set up Richards’ first goal. “I saw (Taylor) shoot it and I was looking for a rebound … it wasn’t a good angle but I just wanted to put it on net.”

Lightning coach John Tortorella added to the already enormous pressure on the Flames to close it out at home, essentially guaranteeing a victory while revealing his team already was planning for Game 7 on Monday in Tampa.

The reverse psychology might have worked as the Lightning, who have won following each of the last seven losses, scored on their first two power plays and forced the Flames to play catch-up.

“It’s been a hell of a series, and it’s fitting we have a Game 7,” Tortorella said.

Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis, right, celebrates with teammate Brad Richards after a goal in the second period. The Lightning beat the Flames, 3-2 in two overtimes, Saturday in Calgary, Alberta.

Now, the Flames will try to avoid becoming only the second team in 33 years to squander a 3-2 series lead. The 2001 Devils are the only team since 1971 to do so, dropping their final two games to Ray Bourque’s Colorado Avalanche. Bourque had gone 22 seasons without winning the Cup.

Fittingly, Bourque called Taylor on Saturday to offer advice on how to overcome a 3-2 deficit. The Lightning’s Dave Andreychuk has played 1,758 games without winning the Cup, a league record

“They (the 2001 Avalanche) did it, so why couldn’t we?” St. Louis said. “It meant a lot to hear from a Hall of Famer like him.”

Andreychuk said, “He was willing to give us a call and let us know what the situation is … for him to want to participate in what we’re doing, well, I can just see him on the other end of the line, still being a leader.”