New Yorkers prove once again that character is more important than championship experience. Tampa’s third straight Stanley Cup campaign is in jeopardy. They last lost the series by two games in the 2019 playoffs. And then 0-2 with Columbus turned into 0-4 in the end.
Although on Friday it all started well for the guests. Nikita Kucherov in the majority opened the scoring in the third minute. Although, maybe in this episode, Corey Perry corrected the puck against the Rangers.
It looked like the champions of the last two years on experience would hold the winning result until the mermaid, but that was not the case. Even before the break, Rangers took the lead and became the masters of the situation. Shesterkin was shooting, but Tampa didn’t have much of an advantage. There were moments at Vasilevsky’s doorstep, and early in the third period Zibanejad made it 3-1.
“Tampa” finally settled on the Shesterkin gate. The guests pulled the keeper out two and a half minutes before the siren and managed to close the gap to a minimum. But not more.
The Rangers goalkeeper saved 29 of 31 shots, but for the first time in a long time he was not among the three stars of the game. Andrei Vasilevsky made 25 saves after 28 shots on target.
Shesterkin himself didn’t answer questions about his confrontation with Vasilevsky at length:
“I beat the best goalkeeper in the world twice? Now, I don’t think that really matters. We must not forget that the series lasts up to four victories, which means that we must continue to play, ”said the Rangers goalkeeper.
In total, in the current playoffs, Shesterkin has made 540 saves, and it is the third most in the history of the New York club.
Before the two kings of New York. The Rangers record holder in a single Stanley Cup save is Henrik Lundqvist (683 saves in 2014). Mike Richter is second with 574 in 1994.
Richter Shesterkin will definitely bypass, and if Rangers reach the final he will also bypass Lundqvist.
Tampa has lost 2 straight playoff games for the first time since 2019, but the next two games will be in Florida.
NHL. Playoffs
New York Rangers (New York) – Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa) – 3:2 (2:1, 0:0, 1:1)
Goals: Miller, 5:59. Kako, 5:32 p.m. Zibanejad, 41:21. – Kucherov, 2:41 (bol.). Paul, 57:58.
Series score – 2-0
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
