The Tampa Bay Lightning stormed into Madison Square Garden with a vengeance and blanked the New York Rangers 2-0. They take a 3-2 series lead back to Tampa Bay.
Yes, 2-0 seems like a small win, but the Lightning owned the Rangers. Only the Lightning showed any signs of life in the first period. They gifted the Rangers two power plays and on one of them they played as if it was their power play. It did not take a genius to know the second and third period were going to be dangerous for the Rangers.
Yet, in the second period, the Lightning played like they wanted the Rangers to score. Jason Garrison and Andrej Sustr received two consecutive penalties, but the Rangers could not capitalize on the power play. Overall, they went 0-4.
Valtteri Filppula finally broke through when he took a sweet pass from Steven Stamkos and shot it smoothly through the five hole on goalie Henrik Lundqvist at 13:29.
It was a beautiful goal. Any hockey fan appreciates a goal like this one.
Five minutes later, Stamkos scored a power play goal after Marc Staal received a tripping penalty.
Why are the Lightning doing so well. Look at where Stamkos is placed. Right in front of the net where he could (and did) properly intercept a rebound right into the net.
Now look at this gif. Lightning goalie Ben Bishop skates far out of his goal to clear the puck behind the net. Where are the Rangers? The Lightning skated down to help Bishop. This is not the first time Bishop left his goal, but luckily for him his teammates are there to help him protect the net.
A few Lightning fans expressed frustration at Bishop.
But it works! Because the Lightning are beating the Rangers, who showed major frustration as time wound down.
Game 6 is Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBCSN.