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Good Night New York! Rangers Knocked Out by Tampa

The Rangers season came to a screeching halt Saturday night, like a strike of lightning (pun intended) in a 2-1 loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to…

Rangers drop game 6

TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 11: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shakes hands with Braden Schneider #45 of the New York Rangers after Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 11, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Rangers season came to a screeching halt Saturday night, like a strike of lightning (pun intended) in a 2-1 loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

A series that will be best remembered for the Rangers blowing a 2-0 series lead and a 2-0 score in Game 3 only to lost that game, en route to four straight losses to the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions.

The Rangers never led in Game 6. Trailing 1-0 for seemingly the entire night as they tried everything they could to get a shot in, and coming up short each time. Finally some seven minutes into the third period, the Rangers put the puck in the net on a shot by Frank Vatrano on a power play, tying the game at one.

For a little while, Rangers fans could feel that they had a chance.

That feeling lasted only 21 seconds when Steven Stamkos scored his second goal of the night to put the Lightning up 2-1. They wouldn't need another score the rest of the way.

Igor Shesterkin who got better with each and every game of this postseason, finished with a 2.05 GAA in the playoffs. After a rough start against Pittsburgh in the opening round, Shesterkin was brilliant the rest of the way; he gave  his team a chance to win every night it touched the ice.

His opponent in this series, Andrei Vasilevskiy was just a little bit better. He gave up only one goal in each of his lats three starts in this series, all wins by the Lightning. He was a huge reason why Tampa returns to the Cup Finals for the third straight year.

So after a great season, the Rangers season is over. It was a season to remember, and one to build off of when they return to the ice in October.

Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.