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Lightning shuts out Rangers, one win from Stanley Cup final (w/video)

 
Lightning goalie Ben Bishop stops the Rangers’ Marty St. Louis in the third period for one of his 26 saves in his shutout.
Lightning goalie Ben Bishop stops the Rangers’ Marty St. Louis in the third period for one of his 26 saves in his shutout.
Published May 25, 2015

NEW YORK — Captain Steven Stamkos pointed out a "harsh reality" before Sunday's Game 5 against the Rangers.

"Some guys in this room may never get the chance to get this far again," he said.

Stamkos' message was simple: embrace the moment, leave it all on the line.

And the Lightning did just that in a 2-0 victory, pulling within one win of playing for the Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay took a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final.

Game 6 is Tuesday in Tampa.

To get this point, the Lightning adapted, playing a more defensive-minded, smart, tight-checking game than it did in the previous two.

"If we're going to have any chance of winning, that's how we have to do it," coach Jon Cooper said.

Tampa Bay also got a big bounce-back performance from goalie Ben Bishop. Bishop, who in Games 3 and 4 allowed five goals in back-to-back games for the first time since 2011, responded with 26 saves and his second playoff shutout this year.

"Even though what happened the last few games, I wasn't discouraged," Bishop said. "I wasn't happy with the way I was playing, but nothing was drastically wrong. I wanted to come out and play the same way, and that was the result."

"We didn't doubt him a bit," Stamkos said.

Stamkos scored for the fourth straight game, tying a franchise playoff record. He said he is more confident than he was in the first eight games of the postseason, when he was goal-less.

"It was only a matter of time," Cooper said of Stamkos. "You can't keep him down forever."

The Lightning had felt pretty good despite Friday's 5-1 loss at home in Game 4. Then it watched the game tape.

"It was worse than we thought," defenseman Victor Hedman said. Stamkos said it was the most scoring chances the Lightning had allowed all year.

"We had to get back to basics," Stamkos said.

Though the Rangers controlled possession for most of the first period Sunday, the Lightning bent but didn't break. Tampa Bay clogged the neutral zone. It didn't panic with the puck and made smart plays, chipping the puck off the glass when it had nothing.

And Tampa Bay's penalty kill, which was scorched for six goals in the previous three games, put on a clinic, going 4-for-4 in the first two periods.

"That was the key to the game," Cooper said. "The turning point."

The Lightning scored the important first goal with six minutes left in the second period, with pass-first center Valtteri Filppula ripping a wrist shot off a rush. "You know me, always thinking shoot," he said, laughing.

Tampa Bay fought through injuries and illness. Center Cedric Paquette left temporarily in the first, holding his right hand/arm after blocking a shot. Center Brian Boyle was a warrior, blocking five shots, often hobbling to the bench. "Boyle looked like a goalie out there," Bishop said.

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Defenseman Braydon Coburn didn't play the final two periods due to what Cooper indicated was an illness. "Don't walk on our bench," Cooper joked.

Then there was Bishop, who left warmups early after taking a Nikita Nesterov shot off a sensitive area. Nesterov told him, "Sorry, bro."

"Good thing there's some time in between," Bishop said, smiling.

The Lightning realizes how close it is to the Cup final, though Stamkos noted the "toughest one to win is the fourth one" in a series.

"If we play like we did (Sunday)," Hedman said, "I like our chances."

Lightning 0 2 0 2
Rangers 0 0 0 0
Lightning 0 2 0 2
Rangers 0 0 0 0

First PeriodNone. PenaltiesTampa Bay bench, served by Kucherov (too many men), 4:37; Staal, NYR (interference), 7:23; Johnson, TB (slashing), 15:01.

Second Period1, Tampa Bay, Filppula 3 (Stamkos, Stralman), 13:29. 2, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 7 (Palat, Kucherov), 18:22 (pp). PenaltiesGarrison, TB (high-sticking), 7:19; Sustr, TB (tripping), 9:51; Staal, NYR (tripping), 17:04.

Third PeriodNone. PenaltiesKreider, NYR (delay of game), 2:51; Palat, TB (slashing), 18:21; Brassard, NYR (slashing), 18:21. Shots on GoalTampa Bay 4-11-7—22. N.Y. Rangers 6-10-10—26. Power-play opportunitiesTampa Bay 1 of 3; N.Y. Rangers 0 of 4. GoaliesTampa Bay, Bishop 11-7-0 (26 shots-26 saves). N.Y. Rangers, Lundqvist 10-7-0 (22-20).