Yet again, the New York Rangers laugh while staring death in the face. This time it was against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6.
By Robby Sabo
In a series filled with twists and turns, where momentum means less than a penny’s worth, the New York Rangers have once again turned to their calling card.
That calling card, of course, is them starting death in the face and laughing out loud hilariously while beating down the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight by the final of 7-3.
After a dominating performance by Jon Cooper’s Lightning at Madison Square Garden Sunday night in Game 5, many wondered whether the Blueshirts would rebound.
After falling behind to another team, yet again in another series, most speculated that this time, this Tampa team would be too much to overcome. After all, how many times could the Rangers go to the well of having their backs up against the wall?
Well, as hockey pundits around the world found out yet again, these Rangers are built from something more than just toughness.
From the get-go, it was the Rangers top line who spearheaded things.
Derick Brassard centering Rick Nash and J.T. Miller combined for 13 points tonight. Nash and Miller each tallied a goal and three assists, while Brassard collected his first career playoff hat-trick.
The @NYRangers tally that began the third period goal-scoring festival. #StanleyCup #NYRvsTBL https://t.co/I4IF8TvbiM
— NHL (@NHL) May 27, 2015
GAME 7 IS NECESSARY! It’s win AND go home for #NYR tonight as the Rangers win 7-3!! pic.twitter.com/hSFFLtKGqi
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 27, 2015
It’s amazing what Nash and Brassard can do when a real player is playing alongside them. Marty St. Louis better not ever sniff the first-line for the rest of his career.
Henrik Lundqvist, came up huge time and again during the first period, including a stop on Steven Stamkos that could easily be described as the turning point of the game. He was the reason New York gained confidence throughout the game while at 2-1.
With the score 1-0 New York, Stamkos found himself with a wide open net. That was, until, Lundqvist got over to his left and made a right pad save Carey Price is currently drooling over at home while eating popcorn on his keister.
Soon after that giant statement, Keith Yandle took a slapper that deflected in past Ben Bishop to make the score 2-0.
Ben Bishop was pulled in the third period after giving up his fifth goal of the night.
All night the Rangers accomplished what they couldn’t two nights ago. They were fierce, stubborn and wrecked havoc in front of Bishop and along the boards.
What this means now, is Madison Square Garden will be rocking for Game 7 on Friday night.
As famed Rangers fan Steven McDonald would say, “where else would you rather be?”
