Double defending champion, Tampa Bay has taken an option on a third appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning won Act III of their series in New York against the Rangers.
Tampa Bay won 3-2 in New York to now lead 3-2 in this Eastern Conference final. It will be recalled that the Rangers had removed the first two matches of this series in their den of Madison Square Garden.
Act V was played 1’50” from the siren with the 2-1 signed by Ondrej Palat. Already a scorer in the last two matches, the Czech deflected a throw from Mikhail Sergachev with his knee. Brandon Hagel then had to score in the empty net.
‘Patience was the key. You had to be strong to play in such an atmosphere, underlines Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. We knew this match was going to be very closed. We were able to follow the plan to win.’
Act VI of this Eastern Conference final will take place on Saturday in Tampa. The winner of this series will face Colorado in the Stanley Cup final.
/ATS