Two third period goals by New York Ranger Artemi Panarin turned a close 3-1 game into a 5-1 blowout as the Tampa Bay Lightning lose their second game in a row. Vincent Trocheck had four points for the visitors as the Rangers continue to beat the Lightning. They are now 5-0-1 in their last 6 regular season meetings against the Bolts.
The signs were there early that things might not be going Tampa Bay’s way as less than two minutes into the game, Victor Hedman loses an edge at his own blue line which springs Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin in on an odd-man rush. Panarin finished the play off for his first of the night and the Bolts were almost immediately chasing the game against the best team in the league.
Artemi Panarin (Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere) 1-0 Rangers
Despite some rather decent play from the Lightning, it was the Rangers who would double their lead a few minutes later. There was nothing fancy on this play, just good old-fashion hard work. The puck was worked back to Jacob Trouba at the point and he let a shot go that Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped. For some reason Hedman had skated wide trying to defend Trocheck and didn’t get back into the play in time. Nick Perbix was outnumbered 2-1 down low and Trocheck was able to dig the puck loose and stuff it home.
Vincent Trocheck (Jacob Trouba, Alexis Lafreniere) 2-0 Rangers
It’s important to stress that the Lightning weren’t playing bad hockey. They were a bit unlucky on the first goal, but for the most part they were pretty much level with the Rangers. A major difference was that the Bolts just weren’t able to finish off their plays or sustain much pressure in the zone. New York was able to keep their defensive shape and control their rebounds.
With about five minutes to go in the period, it looked like the Lightning had gotten on the board as Mikey Eyssimont wrapped a puck into the net underneath a diving Igor Shesterkin.
The Rangers challenged due to some contact in front of the net. Mika Zibanejad hooked Tanner Jeannot to the ice (we know that because the ref had his arm raised to make the call). While going down, Jeannot made contact with Shesterkin and pushed him wide a bit. Still, the goaltender chose to follow the play behind the net and was out of position for the wraparound. Unfortunately, that’s not what the replay officials concluded, as they cited rule 69.3:
‘Video review determined Tampa Bay’s Tanner Jeannot impaired Igor Shesterkin’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to the goal. According to Rule 69.3, “If an attacking player initiates contact with a goalkeeper, incidental or otherwise, while the goalkeeper is in his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.”‘
Whatever.
In the middle frame the Lightning came out with some vigor and statistically dominated things, allowing just 11 shot attempts and 5 shots on goal. One of those shots was a pretty dangerous one as old friend Barclay Goodrow came in on a breakaway.
It was a huge save at the time to keep the deficit at two goals. It would prove even bigger a few minutes later when Nikita Kucherov wired in a shot on the power play to make it 2-1.
Nikita Kucherov (Steven Stamkos, Nick Paul) Power Play, 2-1 Rangers
It would have been so nice to go into the final intermission down just one with a little momentum on their side. That just isn’t the way of the 2023-24 Tampa Bay Lightning, though. A minute after the goal, with the home fans outshouting the Rangers fans, Blake Wheeler flipped a puck out of his own zone. It caught four of the five Lightning skaters behind the play and Trocheck sped into the zone with Chris Kreider. Trocheck is able to saucer the pass over to Kreider whose shot beats Vasilevskiy. It was an absolute deflater of a goal.
Chris Kreider (Vincent Trocheck, Blake Wheeler) 3-1 Rangers
The Lightning kept their pressure on to start the final period, steadily building up a shot count against Shesterkin, and the Rangers were struggling a bit to hold on. As has happened too many times this season, the one second the Lightning look the other way in an otherwise dominating stretch of play ends up in the back of the net. Panarin is forced wide by Hedman, but Vasilevskiy is off of his rhythm a bit and is caught between movements as Panarin rips it by him.
Artemi Panarin (Vincent Trocheck) 4-1 Rangers
Coach Cooper elected to pull his goaltender with 7:57 to go in the game and his top line on the ice. They generated some good chances, but Shesterkin, who celebrated his 28th birthday with 34 saves, was up to the task. His defenders in front of him helped him out as they blocked 25 shots on the night.
Their bad luck with the puck was encapsulated in one play towards the end of the game. Nick Paul has a little bit of space and is able to juke Shesterkin. The goalie got just enough of his stick on it to direct it off the post and then Adam Fox is there to swat it away from danger.
A late power play for the Rangers led to their final goal and emphatically ended any Lightning hopes of a miracle comeback.
Artemi Panarin (Adam Fox, Mika Zibanejad) Power Play, 5-1 Rangers
