Friday, May 29, 2015

NHL Eastern Conference Final: New York Rangers VS. Tampa Bay Lightning

We're down to the Conference Finals, and this post will cover all of the games in the Eastern Conference Final.

Game 1: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist. New York got going in the second period on a Derek Stepan goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh. Tampa Bay tied it in the third period on an Ondrej Palat goal, his fourth of the playoffs, a power play goal powered by Tyler Johnson and Victor Hedman. The Rangers took the lead back on a Dominic Moore goal, assisted by Kevin Hayes and Derick Brassard. This was good for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Moore, Lundqvist (23 for 24 in saves), and Stepan. The Rangers lead the series 1-0.

Game 2: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a shorthanded Tyler Johnson goal, his ninth of the postseason, set up by Alex Killorn. New York tied it on a Chris Kreider power play goal, his sixth of the playoffs, powered by Martin St. Louis and Dan Boyle. The Lightning retook the lead on Johnson's second of the game and tenth of the postseason, via Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov on the power play. Tampa Bay added on in the second period with Johnson completing his hat trick on his eleventh of the playoffs, fueled by Ondrej Palat and Kucherov. The Rangers chipped back on a Derek Stepan power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, passed from St. Louis and Boyle. The Lightning responded with a Killorn goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming in the third period from Victor Hedman and Valtteri Filppula. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Stamkos scored his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Braydon Coburn and Kucherov, the latter getting a sock trick. The Lightning ended it at 6-2 with Killorn's second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, a power play goal pushed through by Jason Garrison and Filppula. The three stars were Johnson, Killorn, and Kucherov, while Stamkos, Filppula, Boyle, and St. Louis get the honorable mentions. The series heads south tied at 1.

Game 3: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist and Ben Bishop. New York started in the first period on a Derick Brassard power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Dan Boyle and Derek Stepan. The Rangers added on with a Jesper Fast goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Steven Stamkos goal, his fifth of the postseason, with a lone assist by Alex Killorn. The Lightning tied it on an Ondrej Palat power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, coming in the second period from Tyler Johnson and Stamkos. Tampa Bay took the lead on Johnson's twelfth of the postseason, fueled by Palat and Victor Hedman. The Lightning extended the lead as Killorn scored his sixth of the playoffs, with the help of Hedman. New York got one back with a Fast goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, made possible by Kevin Klein and Stepan. The Rangers tied it in the third period as McDonagh scored a power play goal, his third of the playoffs, with helpers from Kevin Hayes and Keith Yandle. Tampa Bay regained the lead on Palat's second of the game and sixth of the postseason, pushed through by Nikita Nesterov and Nikita Kucherov. New York tied it again on a Boyle goal, his third of the playoffs, dished from J.T. Miller and Yandle. The Lightning won 6-5 in overtime on a Kucherov goal, his seventh of the postseason, with a lone helper by Nesterov. The three stars were awarded to Kucherov, Palat, and Fast, while Boyle, Johnson, Stamkos, Killorn, Hedman, Nesterov, McDonagh, Stepan, and Yandle all receive honorable mentions. The Lightning are up 2-1 in the so far crazy series.

Game 4: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist and Ben Bishop. New York was first to score in the first period on a Rick Nash goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin. Tampa Bay tied it as Steven Stamkos scored his sixth of the playoffs, thanks to Alex Killorn and Valtteri Filppula in the second period. The Rangers retook the lead on a Chris Kreider goal, his seventh of the postseason, via Kevin Klein and Keith Yandle. New York added on with a Yandle goal, coming off of Klein and Nash. The Rangers extended the lead on a power play goal by Martin St. Louis, powered by Derick Brassard and Dan Boyle. New York padded the lead with a Nash power play goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, helped along by Hayes and Yandle. The final stood at 5-1, with the three stars going to Yandle, Nash, and Klein, while Hayes gets an honorable mention. The series heads north again tied at 2.

Game 5: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Valtteri Filppula goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman. The Lightning added on with a Stamkos power play goal, his seventh of the playoffs, powered by Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the three stars going to Bishop (26 save shutout), Stamkos, and Filppula. The series now favors the Lightning 3-2, as they return home for the next game.

Game 6: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist and Ben Bishop. New York struck first in the first period on a Derick Brassard goal, his seventh of the postseason, coming off of J.T. Miller and Dan Boyle. The Rangers added on with a Keith Yandle goal, his second of the playoffs, via Brassard and Rick Nash. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Ryan Callahan power play goal, powered by Anton Stralman and Bishop. New York replied in the third period with a Miller goal, courtesy of Brassard and Nash. The Rangers extended the lead as James Sheppard scored, with the help of Dominic Moore and Tanner Glass. New York padded the lead on a Brassard goal, his second of the game and eighth of the postseason, passed from Miller and Nash, the latter getting a sock trick. The Lightning countered with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his eighth of the playoffs, assisted by Tyler Johnson. The Rangers shot back with a Nash power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, dished from Yandle and Miller. Tampa Bay pulled back with Kucherov's second of the game and ninth on the playoffs, with helpers from Johnson and Nikita Nesterov. New York finished it at 7-3 on a Brassard empty net goal to complete his hat trick, his ninth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Brassard, Miller, and Nash, while Kucherov, Johnson, and Yandle pick up the honorable mentions. The series will be decided in Game 7 in New York City. 

Game 7: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist. Tampa Bay began in the third period with an Alex Killorn goal, his seventh of the postseason, coming off of Matthew Carle and Valtteri Filppula. The Lightning added on with an Ondrej Palat goal, his seventh of the playoffs, set up by Tyler Johnson and the goalie Bishop. This made it 2-0, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Bishop (22 save shutout), Killorn, and Palat. The Lightning are the Eastern Conference representatives for the Stanley Cup Final on a 4-3 series win.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

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