lightning-rangers game 4 report card returning the favor

The Rangers looked to even the series at two games apiece against the lightning-rangers game 4 report card returning the favorlightning-rangers game 4 report card returning the favor on Friday night in Tampa, but they came up just short, losing 4-3. Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Rangers. Mika Zibanejad continued his strong play, leading the team with two goals. Chris Kreider also had a solid game, chipping in a goal and an assist. In net, Henrik Lundqvist was once again solid, making 28 saves on 31 shots. Overall, it was a tough loss for the Rangers, but they can take some positives from their performance. Here’s a look at their report card:

How the Lightning Won

In Game 1 of the best-of-seven series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers, the Lightning won 5-2. The game was tied at two apiece heading into the third period, but the Lightning took control with three unanswered goals.

The Lightning got off to a slow start in the first period, allowing the Rangers to take a 1-0 lead. However, they responded with two goals of their own in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. The Rangers evened things up early in the third period, but that’s when the Lightning took over.

Steven Stamkos scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal midway through the third period, and Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat added insurance goals later on. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves to pick up the win for Tampa Bay.

The Rangers’ Response

In the first inning, Rangers’ pitcher Cole Hamels quickly got two outs before giving up a solo home run to Rays’ third baseman Evan Longoria. The Rangers responded in the bottom of the inning when second baseman Rougned Odor hit a solo home run of his own off of Rays’ starter Chris Archer. The score remained 1-1 through three innings.

In the fourth inning, Hamels gave up a leadoff double to Rays’ catcher Derek Norris. Norris advanced to third base on a groundout by left fielder Brandon Guyer and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Steven Souza Jr. to give the Rays a 2-1 lead. The Rangers responded again in the bottom half of the inning when Odor hit another solo home run, this time off of Archer’s replacement, reliever Brad Boxberger, to tie the game at 2-2.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning when Rangers’ left fielder Ian Desmond hit a leadoff home run off of Boxberger to give Texas a 3-2 lead. The Rays answered right back in the top of the seventh inning when center fielder Kevin Kiermaier hit a leadoff home run off of Hamels to tie the game at 3-3.

The score stayed tied until the bottom of the ninth inning when Desmond hit a walk-off solo home run off of Boxberger to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory.

Game 4 Report Card

The Rangers exacted a measure of revenge on Thursday night, drubbing the Lightning, 6-1.

After dropping the first three games of the series, New York had its back against the wall. But they responded in a big way in Game 4, outshooting Tampa Bay, 38-23.

Mats Zuccarello led the charge for the Rangers, posting a goal and an assist. Rick Nash, Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes each tallied a goal and an assist as well. Henrik Lundqvist was solid in net, stopping 22 of 23 shots he faced.

With their backs against the wall, the Rangers came out flying in this one. They were rewarded for their effort with a commanding victory.

What’s Next?

1. The next step for the Lightning is to find a way to close out games. They have let too many leads slip away this season, and it has cost them dearly. If they can find a way to seal the deal more often, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

2. The Rangers, on the other hand, need to focus on getting back to basics. They have been making too many mistakes lately and it has cost them dearly. If they can clean up their play, they should be able to make a deep run in the playoffs.

3. Both teams have a lot of work to do if they want to win the Stanley Cup this season. It will be an uphill battle for both, but if they can rise to the challenge, it will be an exciting playoff series for sure.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning got back on track against the New York Rangers, winning 3-1 on the road. The Lightning had lost three of their previous four games, but they were able to get back to their winning ways against a struggling Rangers team.

The game was tight throughout, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. However, the Lightning were able to break through in the third period, scoring twice in quick succession to take a 3-1 lead. The Rangers tried to mount a comeback, but they were unable to find the back of the net again and the Lightning held on for the win.

It was a much needed win for the Lightning, who will look to build on this momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season.

New York Rangers

• In the wake of their 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, the New York Rangers will look to return the favor when they host the Bolts at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon.
• After a slow start to the game, the Rangers found themselves down 2-0 in the first period. However, they would storm back with two goals of their own in the second period, courtesy of Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich.
• Unfortunately, that’s as close as they would come, as Tampa Bay would add three more goals in the third period to seal the victory.
• Despite the loss, there were some positives for New York to take away from the game. Henrik Lundqvist was solid in net, making 27 saves on 31 shots. And Kreider and Buchnevich continued their strong play of late, with each picking up a point.
• The Rangers will look to get back on track against a Tampa Bay team that is playing some of its best hockey of the season. With a win, they can split the season series and keep pace in the standings with both teams currently sitting near the top of their respective divisions.

Game 4 Recap

The Lightning entered Game 4 with a chance to even the series at 2, but the Rangers had other ideas. New York came out flying in the first period, outshooting Tampa Bay 14-6 and taking a 1-0 lead on Mats Zuccarello’s power play goal.

The second period was more of the same, as the Rangers extended their lead to 3-0 on goals by Derek Stepan and Rick Nash. The Lightning finally got on the board late in the third period with a power play goal from Tyler Johnson, but it was too little, too late. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves in the game, and the Rangers took a commanding 3-1 series lead back to Tampa Bay.

Article Conclusion

The Lightning evened the series at two games apiece with a 5-2 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

After dropping the first two games of the series at home, the Lightning responded with a resounding win in Game 3 on Monday night. And they followed that up with another strong performance in Game 4.

The Rangers took an early lead in the game, but the Lightning quickly battled back and took control of the contest. They got goals from Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Nikita Kucherov to take a 4-1 lead into the third period. goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was once again outstanding, making 27 saves to earn the win.

Now that the series is even, it’s shaping up to be a long and hard-fought battle between two evenly matched teams. It should be a lot of fun to watch over the next few days.

Tampa Bay’s Gameplan

• In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Tampa Bay Lightning will look to take control of the series against the New York Rangers.
• The Lightning will need to continue their strong play from the regular season and previous series if they want to win this series. They will need to rely on their speed and skill to create chances against a tough Rangers defense.
• Offensively, the Lightning should look to get pucks deep and use their speed to create turnovers. They should also look for ways to get in front of Henrik Lundqvist and screen him whenever possible.
• Defensively, the Lightning will need to be aware of the Rangers’ dangerous forwards and limit their time and space. They will also need to block shots and keep Lundqvist from seeing too many clean looks at the puck.