Rangers on Brink of Elimination … Again
LIGHTNING 3 – RANGERS 1 – TB Leads Series 3-2
The New York Rangers are in a familiar spot. For the third time this postseason they find themselves on the brink of elimination. And for third time this postseason it will take a great effort to pull themselves out of it.
The Rangers once led this best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final vs. Tampa Bay two games to none. They were 20 minutes away in Game 3 from having a 3-0 series lead. Instead Tampa came back to shock them in Game 3, and a few nights later, after another Tampa comeback, the Lightning hold the cards, a three to two series edge. And they can punch their ticket to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance with a win on Saturday.
“It definitely stings,” Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba told reporters. “It was a tight game that could have gone either way. I think that’s what makes it more frustrating.”
Have a night, Sergy!! pic.twitter.com/KukcReFYUf
— x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 10, 2022
With the score knotted at one very late into the third period, it appeared that the game was heading for overtime until Ondrej Palat took a pass near center ice and shot it home past everyone, including goalie Igor Shesterkin to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead with 1:53 to go in the game.
Seconds later, the Lightning lit the lamp again with 58.8 seconds to on an empty netter by Brandon Hagel and it was all she wrote.
Unfortunately for some Rangers fans, the loss was so bad that one guy lost his head and attacked a Tampa Bay fan with one solid punch to the face. The Lightning fan collapsed to the ground and was helped out by other fans. No identities were released.
Yeah not a “fight.” An assault. Props to the Rangers fans who stopped and helped the guy who was assaulted. https://t.co/CuEfdEUJRQ
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 10, 2022