In a bitterly disappointing loss at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers fall flat in Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
By Robby Sabo
After watching the first-period of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, you wouldn’t ask if the New York Rangers were leading, you’d ask by how many.
The first frame featured the Rangers enjoying most of the possession time in the offensive zone, with a few quality scoring chances.
Then, the second period happened, and after the Rangers failed on their fourth Power Play opportunity, the Tampa Bay Lightning took advantage of a Tanner Glass mistake.
Glass stepped up on an Anton Stralman pass and allowed Steven Stamkos to enter the zone on a three on two rush. He setup Val Filppula in the shot who ripped one high stick side that beat Henrik Lundqvist.
Then, just under five-minutes later, Stamkos put one home on a beautiful tic-tac-tow power-play goal with Marc Staal in the box.
The @TBLightning take down the @NYRangers 2-0! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/8NC5Onj3wv
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) May 25, 2015
From there, the Lightning played smart defense and didn’t allow any Rangers to have room near goalie Ben Bishop. None of their 26 shots on the game were anything of real danger, while Tampa took advantage of their 22 shots on Lundqvist.
Sticks in the passing lanes against New York was a real key for the Lightning. In addition, in a game that featured very few opportunities on either side, the team with more offensive brilliance and pure sniping ability won out.
The Rangers are now in a tough spot, needing back to back wins against the hottest and best offensive team in the world at the moment.
Game 6 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Tampa.
