Rangers/lighting game 3 recap
New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning game 3
By: Dinner
Rangers Lightning Game 3 Recap 6/6
The Rangers played Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final Sunday afternoon & for the first time in the entire series, I gotta say, Tampa Bay actually looked like the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Tampa Bay was able to rally back from being down 2-0 midway though the second, scoring 3 unanswered goals to avoid a 3-0 series deficit to the Rangers. Now it took Ryan Strome getting injured & 52 shots on Igor Shesterkin. But nonetheless Tampa looked like they had a little more pep in their step on Sunday. Game 4 is Tuesday night, with New York still in a position to move within one win of its first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since 2014. Let’s dive into the game.
The first period was a goalie clinic for both sides. A couple absolutely beautiful saves by both Igor Shesterkin & Andrei Vasilevskiy to keep the game scoreless after the first. The scoring didn’t open up until seven & a half minutes into the second. The Rangers were on the power play when Adam Fox dished the puck over to Mika Zibanejad for his usual slap shot one timer from the top of the left circle, beating Vasilevskiy blocker side for the scoring to open up. A few seconds after the goal Rangers forward Ryan Strome, took a cross-check to the lower back from Lightning winger Ondrej Palat and would not return to the ice the rest of the night. But just two minutes later the Rangers were back on the power play Mika fired another one timer slap shot, but this time Vasilevskiy was able to make the initial save until Chris Kreider tapped it in to double the Rangers lead. Literally a minute later the Lightning were on the power play when Victor Hedman quickly set up Nikita Kucherov for a one timer beating Igor glove side.
The third period started off hot for the Lightning. On the power play Steven Stamkos received a cross ice pass from Corey Perry where he did his fucking trademarked slap shot one timer to beat Igor blocker side to even the score at 2 a piece. The lightning damn near controlled the puck the rest of the game. The lack of Ryan Strome on the ice was clearly hurting the Rangers forwards. The Rangers were unable to possess the puck whatsoever, but were able to keep the score tied at 2 up until forty two seconds left in regulation when Ondrej Palat broke the tie to win Game 3 for the Lightning.
The Rangers will remain in Tampa for Game 4 on Tuesday Night at 8:00pm, which in my opinion is a MUST WIN for the Rangers. Stealing game 4 and heading back to MSG for a chance to pull off the gentleman’s sweep (Gentleman’s sweep is where you win a series 4-1 so it’s not as embarrassing for the other team.) at MSG would be the dream scenario for the boys in blue. Hopefully Ryan Strome is good to go for Game 4, after the cross check he left the ice and then came back out for one shift but went back to the locker room after that. But that being said my series prediction will remain the same. Until next time Rangers in 6.
