The New York Rangers, Who Trail The Series 3-2, Say “They Believe In It”

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The New York Rangers, Who Trail The Series 3-2, Say They Believe In It

A little sneak about both the Teams:

The Tampa Bay Lightning, or Bolts, is a professional ice hockey team headquartered in Tampa, Florida. They are a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The New York Rangers, Who Trail The Series 3-2, Say “They Believe In It”

The New York Rangers are a New York-based professional ice hockey club. They are a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The New York Rangers, Who Trail The Series 3-2, Say They Believe In It

About the Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals:

With a 3-1 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning halted the New York Rangers’ eight-game home playoff winning streak, putting them on the verge of elimination.

For the Rangers, this is familiar ground.

“It obviously stings,” remarked Jacob Trouba, a defenseman and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). “However, we must travel there, win a game, and then return here to play Game 7. That is the current objective. We’re going to Tampa and winning a game there.”

The Rangers and Lightning were deadlocked 1-1 late in the third period when winger Ondrej Palat deflected a shot from Tampa Bay defender Mikhail Sergachev into the goal with 1:50 left in regulation. Palat’s game-winning goal was his second in the last three games; he also scored with 42 seconds left in Game 3 in Tampa.

For the second consecutive game, the Rangers were held to one goal by Lightning goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 24 saves. Both of the second-period goals came from unexpected places.

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At 10:29 of the second period, Rangers defender Ryan Lindgren, who had one goal in 15 postseason games, floated a long shot from the side boards past Vasilevskiy for the 1-0 lead.

Sergachev scored over a double screen in front of Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (24 saves) to draw the game at 1-1 at 17:34.

The Rangers had chances to score a second goal but were unable to capitalize.

On a feed from Copp, center Ryan Strome, who returned to the game after missing Game 4 due to a lower-body ailment, was unable to whack the ball into an open net.

In Game 5, coach Gerard Gallant stated his squad had plenty of opportunities.

The Rangers’ goal was only their second even-strength goal in the series since the opening period of Game 2. 

Their power play, which ranks first in the playoffs and converts at a 30 percent rate at home, was restricted to one opportunity in Game 5: a Lightning bench minor in the second period for too many men on the ice, which was the consequence of Shesterkin firing the puck toward the Bolts during a change.

On their lone power-play opportunity, the Rangers were unable to score.

Gallant believed the Rangers deserved more power-play opportunities, claiming the Lightning were not called for certain blatant infractions.

Copp recognized the discrepancy, but he placed the paucity of calls into context.

On Saturday night, the Rangers will play Game 6 in Tampa. There are few things that can console them after three consecutive defeats to a Lightning squad that appears to be improving as the series progresses. However, they’ve faced elimination five times in this postseason run, and each time they’ve prevailed.

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