NHL Playoffs 2015, Lightning vs. Rangers Game 3: Recap and highlights (Video)

By Josh Hill | May 20, 2015

May 20, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tampa Bay lightning are two games away from their second Stanley Cup Finals berth in franchise history as the wheel continue to fall off for the New York Rangers.

If you were expecting Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers to be a goaltender’s game — you were wrong.

Not only was it a goaltending disaster, it was perhaps the most thrilling game of the postseason to watch yet. Hockey diehards will be upset over the 11 total goals scored, but from a pure entertainment standpoint, Game 4 was amazing to watch.

Things got off to a fast start for the Rangers — no pun intended.

New York grabbed a 2-0 lead on that gaol, but that 2-0 lead that the Rangers had quickly dried up and turned into a 5-4 deficit in what was the highest scoring game we could have imagined considering the two goalies that were in net for either team. Ben Bishop is no pushover and Henrik Lundqvist is a legend — so how was there 11 goals scored in total? The Rangers tied things up late in the contest to force overtime thanks to a Dan Boyle goal — but that was something that shouldn’t have been needed.

In the end, it was Tampa Bay’s game to win, but a 6-5 win this close to the Stanley Cup isn’t a win that really gives you that much confidence in your goaltender.

Game 4 is going to be critical, as it’s clear that neither team really wants to win a game in this series. Usually, these two netminders are playing out of their minds, but the 11 goal night in Game 3 is proof that this series may be three games in but it’s no closer to being determined than it was in Game 1.

Tampa Bay has Lundqvist’s number, and if the Rangers can’t even this series in Game 4 then this might be the year the Lightning make it back to the Stanley Cup and get back on top of the NHL.

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