Henrik Lundqvist bounced back from allowing six goals in consecutive games, making 38 saves to help the New York Rangers tie the Eastern Conference Final at 2-2 with a 5-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 on Friday.
Lundqvist made 18 saves in the second period and 13 in the third for the Rangers, who were 2-for-3 on the power play. Rick Nash netted a pair of goals, while Chris Kreider, Keith Yandle, and Martin St. Louis also scored for New York.
Star Performer: Nash had two goals and an assist for his first career multi-goal playoff performance. He opened the scoring in the first period with his first goal of the series and added a power-play tally in the third while registering four shots and three hits in the contest.
Turning Point: Lightning captain Steven Stamkos tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second period, but it didn't take long for New York to regain the lead. Kreider and Yandle scored goals 1:48 apart late in the period and the Rangers never looked back.
Goalie Comparison: Unlike Lundqvist, Lightning netminder Ben Bishop had another rough outing. Bishop allowed five goals in Tampa Bay's Game 3 victory and he allowed five again Friday, looking a little like he did when he struggled against the Detroit Red Wings to start the opening round.
Goalie | Shots | GA | Saves | SV% |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lundqvist | 39 | 1 | 38 | .974 |
Bishop | 24 | 5 | 19 | .792 |
Top Highlight: Nash's first goal was a signature performance from the power forward who scored 42 times during the regular season. He entered Tampa Bay's zone with a head of steam and drove past Cedric Paquette on his way to the net before cutting across the top of the crease and sliding a backhand deke under Bishop's outstretched pad.
Stat of the night: The Lightning have been limited to two goals or fewer in all seven of their postseason losses.
Series at a glance
Game 1: Rangers 2, Lightning 1
Game 2: Lightning 6, Rangers 2
Game 3: Lightning 6, Rangers 5 (OT)
Game 4: Rangers 5, Lightning 1
Game 5: Sunday, May 24, 8 p.m. ET
Game 6: Tuesday, May 26, 8 p.m. ET
Game 7*: Friday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET
*If necessary