Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals was the most pragmatic of the series. Tampa Bay, closing the gap and playing at home again, showed their top league skills, methodically dismantling the Rangers and giving them no chance of winning.
Ondrej Palat, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, who united since last game in a single tie and set up the then game-winning goal for the Lightning, today once again became the team’s main offensive option. On nearly every shift, Tampa’s first tie has dominated the opposition, consistently setting up dangerous moments on Igor Shesterkin’s doorstep.
Two of the three goals scored by “lightning” in equal compositions were organized by the Stamkos link. Including Kucherov’s goal, which later became victorious. In the 34th minute, with the score 1-0, defender Jan Rutta intercepted the puck in the middle zone, passed to Palat, who brought the Russian striker “Tampa” “one to zero” with Shesterkin. Kucherov confidently treated his compatriot, sending the puck into the “house”.
The puck was the Russian’s 51st in his career in the cup, and he approached the top 5 of the main marksmen among current players in the league – Patrick Kane of Chicago closes the top five (52 goals).
Kucherov scored in the third game in a row, repeating his personal best for longest playoff goal streak. Moreover, the Russian (148 points) has only one point left to enter the top 30 of the most productive players in the history of the Stanley Cup.
In total, Igor Shesterkin missed three goals (one more was scored in an empty net), making 27 saves. There are no questions about the game for the Rangers goalkeeper – this time around he just didn’t get the proper support from defenders and forwards. Shesterkin is still the team’s most valuable player in this playoff and will need to give his best in the upcoming games.
Andrei Vasilevsky also played his best game during the series. Today, the Tampa goaltender showed his composure, parrying 34 of 35 shots and not missing a single puck in even compositions. The only goal against him was scored by Artemy Panarin three minutes before the end in the six against four format.
The Lightning’s Russian goaltender was recognized as the game’s first star. Vasilevsky’s success extended his home playoff winning streak to six games, tying Tampa’s own record in 2021.
We’ll see at least two more games in the Eastern Finals, which is especially encouraging against the backdrop of Western Colorado-Edmonton pairing, which established the definition of a four-game winner.
NHL. Playoffs
Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa) – New York Rangers (New York) – 4:1 (1:0, 1:0, 2:1)
Goals: Brown, 2:38. Kucherov, 33:07. Stamkos, 44:56. Chambers, 59:51. — Panarin, 56:27 (bol.).
Score in the series – 2:2
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.
