Sunday, June 5, 2022. 5:09 PM
SUMMARY
Forward Mika Zibanejad put Rangers ahead in the second period with a one-timer on the power play.
Chris Kreider added to the Rangers lead, still on the power play, by scoring on a throw return.
Nikita Kucherov put the Lightning on the board with a power play goal.
In a goalless first period, the two goalkeepers had to report a few times. A total of 30 pitches were released (15 for New York and 15 for Tampa Bay).
Igor Shesterkin faced arguably the biggest threat of the engagement when Nikita Kucherov found himself alone in front of him. Fueled by a superb long pass from defender Ryan McDonagh, Kucherov, who had just left the penalty box, was unable to deceive the New York goalkeeper.
Pre-game notes:
17 wins, 0 losses. It was the Lightning’s active playoff record after a loss before the team hit a wall against the Rangers. After New York took the honors in Game 1, the Rangers took a 2-0 series lead on Friday night with a 3-2 win.
Sunday afternoon, the Lightning will try to find their means as the team will be back in front of their fans for the next two games.
Only seven teams came from a 2-0 deficit in the conference final to reach the final. The last time a team pulled off the feat was in 1991, when the Penguins beat the Bruins.
Even if the task looks difficult for Tampa Bay, we refuse to throw in the towel in the camp of the double reigning champions.
“Did it eliminate us? No, but we definitely have a hill to climb,” head coach Jon Cooper said Saturday.
The recent successes of the Rangers are partly attributable to the good performance of the “Kid line”, composed of Alexis Lafrenière, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil. The three of them have already totaled 23 points since the start of the playoffs.
It is also impossible to ignore the brilliance of goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin. After a checkered start to the spring tournament, the Russian has recovered since the second round. Shesterkin has allowed just 16 goals in his last nine games and has a .947 save percentage.
The Rangers will have to be wary, however, since they know very well the situation in which the Lightning find themselves. New York had erased a 3-1 deficit against the Penguins in the first round and a 3-2 deficit against the Hurricanes in the next round. The team will certainly want to avoid being played the same round by Tampa Bay.
With the Lightning trying to reach the Finals for the third straight year, the Rangers could find themselves in the Finals for the first time since 2014. Game 4 is Tuesday night in Tampa Bay.
Zibanejad opens the scoring with superiority
–
Kreider’s turn to strike in AN
–
–
