Mishkin's Extra Shift: Lightning 3, Rangers 2 - Game 3

Certainly, the Lightning needed this game. In dramatic, come-from-behind fashion, they got it. Trailing 2-0 midway through the second period and down by one heading into the third, they netted the final three goals of the contest.

The winning tally came in the final minute of regulation, off another dazzling play from Nikita Kucherov. From the slot, Kucherov took a pass from Victor Hedman and quickly fed a backhander to Ondrej Palat, who was open at the right circle. Palat snapped a one-timer past Igor Shesterkin inside the near post at 19:18. Then the Lightning, by protecting the front of their net, got through the remaining seconds after the Rangers pulled the goalie for a sixth attacker.
The deciding goal may have come in the last minute of the third, but this game had plenty of storylines and key plays over the first 59 minutes. The Lightning were much tighter defensively than they had been in either of the first two games at Madison Square Garden. During five-on-five action, they managed the puck better, checked well, and didn't allow the Rangers many dangerous looks from the front of the net. When the Rangers did create even-strength chances, Andrei Vasilevskiy turned them aside. Three of those came in succession during a first period flurry. Barclay Goodrow, Tyler Motte, and Ryan Reaves all fired close-range shots on net that Vasilevskiy stopped. But those instances in which the Rangers produced Grade-A five-on-five chances were limited and isolated. That's a credit to how well the Lightning defended in front of Vasilevskiy. They held the Rangers to just 21 even-strength shots. Ten of those came in the first period, so New York only registered 11 during the final 40 minutes. In particular, the newly-formed line of Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn, and Brandon Hagel had a big role in limiting opposition looks. They were matched against the Mika Zibanejad line. Zibanjead, Chris Kreider, and Frank Vatrano combined for just three shots during five-on-five play. That's because Cirelli's line often had the puck in the offensive zone, which meant that Zibanejad's line was forced to play defense and couldn't go on the attack.
Of course, the Rangers, who have had a terrific power play all season, were once again dangerous on the PP. They received five man-advantages in all, scoring twice. Zibanejad had his fingerprints on both. He tallied the opening goal by ripping a left circle one-timer into the top of the net at 7:38 of the second. Just over two minutes later, his shot from the same spot led to Kreider's rebound goal.
But, in a critical swing, the Lightning got one of those goals back 66 seconds later. Following Jacob Trouba's interference minor, Victor Hedman set up Kucherov for a one-timer at the right circle. With Shesterkin moving right to left, Kucherov's shot found its way through Shesterkin's pads.
The Kucherov goal came at 10:50 of the second. The goal sparked the Lightning, who applied consistent pressure over the final 29 minutes. A strong opening shift in the third yielded another power play chance and they tied the game at 1:22 when Steven Stamkos one-timed Corey Perry's cross-ice pass into the top of the net.
Following Stamkos' goal, the Lightning owned the majority of possession, shots, and scoring chances. Another Lightning power play at 6:27 might have yielded the go-ahead goal. But Shesterkin made two saves and the Rangers helped him with four shot blocks. It was a gutsy kill for New York. Soon after, it would be the Lightning's turn. Kucherov was assessed a double-minor penalty for high-sticking at 10:56. Like the Rangers minutes earlier, the Lightning delivered a determined, successful kill. Alex Killorn drew a tripping minor on Trouba, so two of the four minutes were spent four-on-four. In all, the Lightning limited the Rangers to just one shot during the power play time and the score remained 2-2.
That set the stage for the final minute drama. The winning tally may have come late in the third, but the Lightning, based on their performance over the full 60 minutes, were deserving of the victory. They played with urgency and structure. With Shesterkin turning aside so many of their looks, they could have allowed frustration to affect their play. But they didn't, so faith in the process was a big part of the victory. And they were resilient. Entering the third period behind on the scoreboard, they were staring at the prospect of a 3-0 series deficit. But in the decisive final frame, they outshot the Rangers, 18-6, and owned a 32-11 advantage in attempts.
The Lightning have gotten one of the games back that they dropped in New York. But they are still down in the series, two games to one. A critical Game Four will take place on Tuesday.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
1. Nikita Kucherov - Lightning. Goal and two assists.
2. Ondrej Palat - Lightning. GWG.
3. Igor Shesterkin - Rangers. 48 saves.