Lightning Toast Rangers, Take Home-Ice Advantage | IXGAMES

The floodgates finally opened on the New York Rangers. After 13 straight playoff games decided by one goal, the Rangers were pummeled 6-2 by the Tampa Bay Lightning (+125 away) on Monday, evening their Eastern Conference final at one game apiece. Tampa Bay now takes home-ice advantage into Wednesday’s Game 3 (8:00 PM ET, CBC) at the Ice Palace. The Lightning managed to do what no team had done since early October: score six times on Henrik Lundqvist. The former Vezina winner had a .945 save percentage in these playoffs before getting lit up on Monday. Meanwhile, it was business as usual at the other end, as the Rangers scored exactly two goals for the eighth time in their 14 postseason games. A meltdown like this was bound to happen at some point. Tampa Bay led the league in scoring during the regular season at 3.16 goals per game. Given how the Rangers have struggled to score in these playoffs, and given how well Ben Bishop (.931 save percentage) has played thus far, three goals might be all it takes for the Bolts to win Wednesday’s game and take a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 also at home.

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