Blue Line Station
Fansided

Rangers let Tampa back into the series with 3-2 loss

By Steve Paulus

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Frank Vatrano #77 of the New York Rangers goal tender interference on Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Frank Vatrano #77 of the New York Rangers goal tender interference on Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers stops a shot against Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers stops a shot against Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The goalie war

Andrei Vasilevskiy finally lived up to his advance billing, making some outstanding stops while making 28 saves and allowing only two power play goals.  He was helped by a shorthanded Barclay Goodrow post in the second period, but he also stopped Goodrow on a point blank shot in the first period.

Igor Shesterkin faced 51 shots and allowed only one even strength goal.  He stopped Kucherov on a breakaway in the first period and faced 19 shots in the third period alone.

The Lightning took some liberties with Shesterkin.  In a two minute span it in the second period Corey Perry slashed him in the face and then Riley Nash took him out when he crashed skates first into the the Ranger netminder.

After the game, Gallant said that they would be bringing it up with the league as it was clear that the Lightning were doing their best to disrupt Shesterkin’s game and they came very close to injuring him.   The coach said “It fazes me more than  him (Shesterkin). I don’t like it…hopefully when we talk to the supervisors they’ll take care of some of that cause it wasn’t right.”

Special teams were crucial

The Rangers power play was clicking again, scoring twice in five opportunities (two abbreviated), but in this game, the Lightning power play was just as good, scoring twice as well in four chances.

Jacob Trouba had a bad night for penalties, taking two minors that resulted in goals and one that negated a four minute power play.  It would be harsh to call them dumb penalties, but at least one could have been avoided and another was a very soft call.  Two of the penalties were when he was caught up ice, once with a broke stick.

The penalty kill did give up two goals, but were clutch when Frank Vatrano took a goalie interference penalty at a point when the Lightning were swarming in the thid period.

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