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Rangers overwhelm Lightning, tie series at 2 (w/video)

 
Lightning goalie Ben Bishop is beaten by the Rangers’ Rick Nash, middle top, for Nash’s first goal, which gives New York a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Lightning goalie Ben Bishop is beaten by the Rangers’ Rick Nash, middle top, for Nash’s first goal, which gives New York a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Published May 23, 2015

TAMPA

Nikita Kucherov, the hero Wednesday night, found himself wide open in the slot early in Friday's Game 4. l He missed the net — high and wide. l A few minutes later, Tyler Johnson, the NHL's leading playoff scorer, had Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist beat but ripped a shot off the crossbar. Ping. l Alex Killorn had two breakaways in the first two periods. l Nada. l "We didn't have the puck luck tonight," Johnson said. l The Lightning lost to the Rangers 5-1, disappointing a sellout crowd of 19,204 at Amalie Arena and evening the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final series at two games each heading into Sunday's Game 5. But as ugly as the score looked, Tampa Bay believed it deserved a better fate, focusing on its 39 shots — most thwarted in a brilliant bounce-back performance by Lundqvist — and a dominating second period. l "I thought for 45 minutes we did everything but put the puck in the net," coach Jon Cooper said. "People are going to wake up in the morning and look at the box score and say, 'Oh, wow, Tampa got waxed.' But if you were in the building, you probably didn't see it that way."

It was a huge win for the Rangers, who regained home ice advantage in the series as well as some confidence. Their best players finally showed up. Rick Nash scored his first two goals of the series, and former Lightning captain Marty. St. Louis got his first of the playoffs. Lundqvist, nicknamed the "King," who gave up six goals each in Games 2 and 3, was on the top of his game.

"Not surprised," said defenseman Anton Stralman, a former Rangers teammate of Lundqvist. "That's him."

New York was able to get to its longtime nemesis Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who has allowed five goals in consecutive starts for the first time since March 2011.

"Not the way you want to play at home," he said.

But Stralman said Bishop "did his job."

"I don't think we can put any goals on him tonight," Stralman said. "We gave up some really good chances."

Nash led the way for the Rangers, scoring on a breakaway three minutes in for the game's first goal. But the Lightning controlled the second period, outshooting the Rangers 19-6, with captain Steven Stamkos tying it at 1 midway through.

"One of our better periods of the playoffs," Bishop said.

The turning point was a tie-breaking goal by the Rangers' Chris Kreider, sparked by a weak pass behind the Lightning net by Brenden Morrow. Kreider, left uncovered in front, put in a rebound.

Less than two minutes later, Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle's shot toward the corner hit Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman's right leg in front of the net, and the puck went in past Bishop.

"It's tough to have a period like we did in the second," Cooper said. "Nine times out of 10 you're coming out with the lead, probably by multiple goals."

The Lightning penalty kill continued its funk, allowing two power-play goals in the third period.

The third period also got pretty nasty. The Rangers took some liberties with their sticks, including a cheap shot by wing Kevin Hayes, who slashed Johnson in the stomach.

"Don't know what you're talking about," Johnson said of the slash when asked after the game.

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The frustrated "Triplets" line of Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay's most effective line all season, combined for three shots, 14 penalty minutes and no points.

"You look at it this way," Johnson said. "It's a best-of-three to get into the Stanley Cup (final). That's pretty cool."

Rangers 1 2 2 5
Lightning 0 1 0 1

First Period1, N.Y. Rangers, Nash 3 (Hayes, Hagelin), 17:18. PenaltiesSt. Louis, NYR (interference), 8:01; Stralman, TB (interference), 12:13.

Second Period2, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 6 (Killorn, Filppula), 11:30. 3, N.Y. Rangers, Kreider 7 (Klein, Yandle), 15:16. 4, N.Y. Rangers, Yandle 1 (Klein, Nash), 17:04. PenaltiesStaal, NYR (holding), :28; Kreider, NYR (tripping), 7:44.

Third Period5, N.Y. Rangers, St. Louis 1 (Brassard, D.Boyle), 5:08 (pp). 6, N.Y. Rangers, Nash 4 (Hayes, Yandle), 11:33 (pp). PenaltiesNesterov, TB (high-sticking), 4:40; Morrow, TB (hooking), 10:02; McDonagh, NYR (roughing), 17:31; Stepan, NYR (high-sticking), 17:31; Hagelin, NYR (roughing), 17:31; Johnson, TB (roughing), 17:31; Kucherov, TB, misconduct, 17:31; Palat, TB (roughing), 17:31; Klein, NYR (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:24; Morrow, TB (goaltender interference, unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:24; Glass, NYR, minor-misconduct (cross-checking), 19:56; Paquette, TB, minor-misconduct (interference), 19:56. Shots on GoalN.Y. Rangers 7-6-11—24. Tampa Bay 7-19-13—39. PP oppsN.Y. Rangers 2 of 4; Tampa Bay 0 of 4. GoaliesN.Y. Rangers, Lundqvist 10-6-0 (39 shots-38 saves). Tampa Bay, Bishop 10-7-0 (24-19).