Games
Tampa Bay Lightning 1 - New York Rangers 2
The first saw the Rangers have the majority of chances, but they could not capitalize on them. Chances were a bit more even in the second, but it stayed scoreless until very late in the period. Chris Kreider's shot from the slot could not find its way past a mass of bodies, but it did bounce to an open Derek Stepan. Stepan put the puck over Bishop and into the net, as the Rangers took a 1-0 lead with 12 seconds left in the period. A powerplay in the third period help the Lightning tie the game. A tic-tac-toe play resulted in Ondrej Palat one-timing the puck past Lundqvist. The game remained tied until late in regulation, as a series of bounces was needed to score the go-ahead goal. Kevin Hayes shot would hit Bishop, bounce off Dominic Moore's skate, and into the Lightning net. The Rangers held on for the final two-and-a-half minutes, as they take the game by a score of 2-1. The win put New York ahead 1-0 in the series.
Tampa Bay Lightning 6 - New York Rangers 2
It looked bad for Tampa Bay early in the game, as penalties by Brian Boyle (holding) and Jason Garrison (puck over glass) saw the Lightning playing two men down for a minute. Just as the first penalty was expiring, the Lightning took advantage of a Rangers mistake. Martin St. Louis stumbled when receiving a pass, allowing for Alex Killorn to gather the puck and pass to Tyler Johnson. Johnson's breakaway attempt was stopped by Lundqvist, but the rebound bounced off Johnson and into the net. The initial call was no goal, but a review overturned the ruling, as the Lightning went up 1-0. The Rangers powerplay made good on their mistake minutes later, as Krieder buried a rebound to tie the game. Midway through the period, it was the Lightning's powerplay that struck. Johnson beat Lundqvist glove side to put Tampa Bay in the lead once again. Johnson ended up completing his hat trick in the second, putting on a rebound after the Lightning failed to convert on a 2-on-1. It was mostly the Rangers after that. A powerplay was what New York ended up needing. Stepan was initially stopped by Bishop, a but banked his next shot off of Braydon Coburn and into the net. The Rangers kept up the pressure, and managed to keep the Lightning off the shot counter for 10 minutes, but could not find the tying goal. Tampa Bay struck early in the third, as Hedman's pass found Killorn, who shot the puck past a diving Lundqvist and into the net. A Tampa Bay powerplay minutes later resulted in Stamkos tipping Coburn's shot into the Rangers net. It took 10 minutes for the Lightning to get another shot off, but that one also found the back of the net. Another powerplay saw Killorn score on a loose puck near the net, as Tampa Bay's sixth goal was enough for them. The 6-2 win tied the series for Tampa Bay.
New York Rangers 5 - Tampa Bay Lightning 6 (OT)
Looking to rebound from last game, the Rangers struck early in this game. A powerplay opportunity seconds into the game lead to Brassard blasting one past a screen Bishop, putting New York up 1-0. While the Lightning kept the shot attempt advantage, it was the Rangers who scored the next goal. Midway through the period, Jesper Fast was sprung on a breakaway, and proceeded to beat Bishop with a backhand shot. Tampa Bay struck back just over a minute later, as a 2-on-1 saw Killorn fanned on the shot, but Stamkos getting the loose puck and burying it. Both teams put up shots, but it remained 2-1 for the Rangers after the first. The Lightning did tie the game midway through the second. A give-and-go resulted in Palat getting open and beating Lundqvist blocker side. The goals kept coming for Tampa Bay, as Johnson and Killorn scored four minutes apart to put the Lightning up by two. Their lead was cut seconds later, as Fast scored his second of the game to pull the Rangers to within a goal. A powerplay early in the third helped the Rangers tie the game, as Ryan McDonagh scored with the man advantage. The Lightning regained the lead with six minutes left, as Palat beat Lundqvist. New York looked for the tying goal, and would get it with two minutes left in regulation. Keith Yandle's point shot was stopped, but the rebound bounced over to Dan Boyle, who swept the puck into the net to tie the game. Overtime was needed for this high-scoring affair. The Rangers came out firing in the extra frame, but it was the Lightning who ended it early. Three-and-a-half minutes in, Kucherov skated into the Rangers zone and beat Lundqvist with a shot from above the circles. The overtime win pushed Tampa Bay ahead 2-1 in the series.
New York Rangers 5 - Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Tampa Bay looked to keep their winning streak going, as they had a few chances early in the game. Lundqvist had other ideas though, as he stopped them. New York got on the board first. Late in the period, Nash would skate into the Lightning zone, cut in near the crease, and slide a backhand past Bishop's outstretched pad. The Lightning pressured for the tying goal in the second, and eventually were awarded with it. Midway through the middle frame, Stamkos would one-time the puck past Lundqvist, tying the game 1-1. The tie lasted minutes, as Kreider buried a rebound four minutes later to put the Rangers back in the lead. It was extended two minutes later, as Yandle's point shot deflected off Hedman's shin pad and bounced past Bishop, making it 3-1 for New York. Martin St. Louis was all around early in the third. First, he drew a high-sticking period against Nesterov. A minute later he scored on the powerplay, extending the Rangers lead. A another powerplay later in the period lead to Nash scoring his second of the game. Things got heated in the last half of the third, as on three separate occasions either roughing or misconduct (unsportsmanlike or otherwise) The game ended 5-1 in favour of New York, as the win tied the series at 2-2.
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 - New York Rangers 0
Unlike most of the games in this series, Game 5 saw both goalies perform well. Both Bishop and Lundqvist turned aside any chances the Rangers and Lightning (respectively) had in the first period. It continued early in the second, as Lundqvist made a spectacular glove save on Stamkos. The goalless game finally ended later in the period. Valtteri Filppula snapped a shot from the slot, beating Lundqvist blocker side to put the Lightning up 1-0. Tampa Bay struck again late in the period thanks to a powerplay chance. A tic-tac-toe play ended with Stamkos redirecting the puck into the net, making it 2-0 Lightning. The Rangers pushed in the third to get a goal, but Bishop stood tall (literally and figuratively). He made 26 saves in the shutout effort, as the 2-0 win put Tampa Bay ahead 3-2 in the series.
New York Rangers 7 - Tampa Bay Lightning 5
Facing elimination, the Rangers needed a good start to this game. They did just that, as Brassard slid a shot through Bishop over three minutes in to put New York up 1-0. The Lightning had chances to tie it, including a great one by Stamkos near the net, but Lundqvist was there to keep the Rangers in the lead. New York extended their lead later in the period, as Yandle's point shot bounced off a body in the slot and ended up in the net. Tampa Bay did get one back minutes later thanks to a powerplay chance. Stralman sprung Callahan on the breakaway, as Callahan beat Lundqvist with a backhand shot. There were chances and close calls in the second period, but neither team could find the back of the net. The third period made up for the lack of scoring in the second. It kicked off three minutes into the period, as an amazing save by Bishop was soon forgotten seconds later, as Brassard banked a pass off J.T. Miller's skate and into the net. New York struck again three minutes later, as James Sheppard tucked home a rebound to put the Rangers up 4-1. Brassard scored a minute later to make it 5-1 for New York. Tampa Bay would respond, as Kucherov scored to close the gap. A powerplay midway though the period helped the Rangers regain a 4-goal lead, as Nash jammed home a rebound on the man advantage. That 4-goal lead lasted a bit longer, as Kucherov scored his second of the night three minutes later. Brassard capped off the goalfest with an empty netter late in the period. New York won Game 6 on the road, making it 3-3 and forcing a Game 7.
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 - New York Rangers 0
Game 7 was more like Game 5, as goals were elusive in this contest. Both Bishop and Lundqvist were up for the challenge, stopping everything they faced in the first two period. The Rangers did have some concerns outside of scoring though, as McDonagh left in the first period before coming back minutes later. The games first goal came early in the third period. Killorn worked his way from the wall to the slot, where he released a backhand. The shot found a way to squeeze through Lundqvist's pads and into the net, as Tampa Bay went up 1-0. Midway through the period, the Triplets worked their magic. Johnson entered the Rangers zone and hit Palat with a pass. Palat proceeded to skate in and beat Lundqvist glove side, extending the Lightning's lead to two. The Rangers pressed, but could not beat Bishop. The 22 save shutout by Bishop was enough, as Tampa Bay won Game 7 to move on to the Stanley Cup Final.
Two Thoughts on the Series
- Who would have thought that, out of Lundqvist and Bishop, it would be Bishop with two shutouts in the series (hint: not me).
- Nice to see Stamkos producing.
I couldn't remember/think of anything good, so here is Stamkos with the Prince of Wales Trophy
Highlight of the Series
From GOAT to goat, the Ben Bishop Story.
No comments:
Post a Comment