Even the most dedicated Rangers fans could hardly have imagined that their team would confidently defeat the defending champion 6-2 in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals. And even more so because after two meetings, New York will lead 2-0.

However, the Blueshirts unexpectedly managed to impose their hockey on the opponent, while the Lightning still cannot oppose anything to the nominal outsider of this pair.

Confrontation of Russian players

The sign “Rangers” – “Tampa” attracts fans from Russia with a personal confrontation between star compatriots. Here is the unspoken battle for the title of the best goalkeeper in the league between Igor Shesterkin and Andrey Vasilevsky, and the scorer dispute between Artemy Panarin and Nikita Kucherov.

Forwards show the same statistics – Panarin in this series has 2 (1 + 1) points, “goal + pass” and Kucherov.

Goalkeeper duel is still taking place with a clear advantage Shesterkina. Igor shows a phenomenal game, and without him, the Rangers would hardly have reached the finals of the East – the keeper won seven home games in a row in the playoffs, becoming the first goalkeeper after 2014, who submitted such a series.

Igor Shesterkin / Photo: © REUTERS / Danny Wild-USA TODAY

Rangers are preparing a sensation

Even the current champion does not want to lose in the 0-2 series, so Tampa immediately after the starting face-off actively ran on the attack. But the Lightning hockey players decided not to limit themselves only to activity in the opponent’s half and went to the trick. At the beginning of the period, Patrick Maroon provoked Rangers player Ryan Reeves before the next face-off by hitting him with a shoulder to the head. Reeves immediately reacted and attacked the Tampa striker, for which he received two minutes.

Tampa, on the other hand, methodically took advantage of the majority, and within ten seconds after the removal of Reeves, the puck was in Shesterkin’s goal. From Victor Hedman’s pass, Nikita Kucherov hit the near corner with an accurate throw. Thus, the striker scored the first score in this confrontation.

But to play in the usual manner, holding the score, the “lightning” did not work – after a few minutes, K’Andre Miller opened Vasilevsky’s gate.

The missed puck did not extinguish the attacking impulse of Tampa, and in the middle of the period, the Lightning could take the lead. Steven Stamkos went one on one with Shesterkin, put the keeper on the pads and threw down. However, the Russian managed to hit the puck beautifully in the splits, and the stadium again began to chant: “Igor! Igor!

Photo: © REUTERS / Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

And then Vasilevsky had to work miracles on the ice – the Blueshirts played twice in the majority. The Tampa keeper did a great job and did not let the opponent correct the statistics when playing in unequal lineups. But at the end of the period, already in the “5 on 5” format, the Russian still missed – Kaapo Kakko led the Rangers forward. It is interesting that Kakko is a representative of the youngest link of the Blueshirts. And the Rangers, in general, are the youngest team in the current Stanley Cup season, with an average age of 26.7 years.

But the second period went as the whole series should have looked like. This 20-minute was a benefit to the goalkeepers, who dried up the game along the way making some great saves. But Vasilevsky was also helped by Stamkos, who knocked the puck off the ribbon with his hand in the middle of the period. Shesterkin, on the other hand, was also noted for an impeccable pass under the blue line to Panarin – the forward ran into the gap, but he failed to excel.

In the final 20 minutes, the teams nevertheless decided to please the audience not only with goals, but also with a bright ending. First, at the start of the period, the Rangers ran off to the counterattack and, from the transfer of Adam Fox, Mika Zibanejad sent another puck into Vasilevsky’s goal.

“Tampa” could not save the match and burns 0-2 in the series

And then the Tampa hockey players realized that there was nowhere to retreat, and began to storm the gates of Shesterkin. But the Russian over and over again, to the applause of the fans, saved the Blueshirts. It seemed that this could continue until the final siren.

However, the Lightning still managed to give intrigue – three minutes before the end of the period, the team’s coaching staff changed Vasilevsky for the sixth field player. All the leaders appeared on the ice at the Lightning, who had to be in such a situation more than once. And two minutes before the end of the period, Tampa was able to win back one puck – Nick Paul, from the transfer of Nikita Kucherov, outplayed Shesterkin in close combat.

Photo: © REUTERS / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

On courage, the Lightning ran to equalize the score, but the Rangers keeper spent the rest of the time in wall mode and helped the team get their second victory in the series.

Vasilevsky, on the other hand, missed nine goals in two matches, but he is definitely not to blame for the defeats. So says the head coach of “Tampa” John Cooper, who even after the first meeting spoke on this matter.

You’ve seen five games in the Toronto series and you’re asking all these questions about what’s wrong with Vasilevskiy? It shocks me,” said Tampa Bay head coach John Cooper.

As a result, the Rangers defeated Tampa by a minimal margin – 3: 2. But it’s definitely too early for fans of the Blueshirts to relax, because Lightning can still turn the series around. Moreover, Kucherov also played out, who scored two (1 + 1) points in the second meeting.