EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
GAME THREE
Rangers 2
Lightning 3
FINAL
Rangers Let Tampa Back in Series
What did I say ...
A two-game lead heading into Tampa means nothing if you can't finish!
The Bolts took 52 SOGs, with 19 coming in the third period. The Rangers had just six shots after getting off a dozen in the first and second periods.
They played too close to the fire in the final session and got burned with a mere 0:42 seconds left in regulation. This isn't the first time we've seen them adopt this defensive posture. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad were on the ice and solely blamed themselves. Noble, but a poor finish nonetheless.
Andrei Vasilevskiy played his best game of the series. The first period was Andrei versus Igor. Each team had numerous scoring opportunities. The second period was all about the power play in which the Blueshirts closed out the session with a 2-1 advantage. But it didn't last. Steven Stamkos scored on another Tampa power play at 1:12 of the third period tying the game at two.
The Rangers were 2 for 5 on the power play. They completely blew a golden opportunity when the Bolts got whistled for a double-minor but ruined things with a penalty of their own.
All the big men on campus skated to a stalemate until the final minute. Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider accounted for six points for the Rangers. Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Corey Perry accounted for eight points, including assists on the game-winning goal by Ondrej Palat, who made it nine points for Tampa.
Vasilevskiy and the Lightning finally showed up and played their best game this series. Even then, victory was within the Rangers' grasp.
Hopefully, Ryan Strome and Barclay Goodrow are up for the challenge of game four.
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