rangers lightning playoffs 2015

Tyler Johnson scored the first three Tampa Bay goals, one shorthanded, one on the powerplay, and one at even strength, to carry the Bolts to a decisive 5-2 win in Game Two. We all knew the Rangers wouldn’t make this easy on us. Of course, the Lightning are a great team, so this really shouldn’t be a shocker. What was shocking was how badly the Rangers played on defense, and how badly luck reared its ugly head.

Two of Johnson’s goals came on fortuitous bounces –and you create your own luck, which he did– with multiple Rangers blowing tires to start the plays. But as I just mentioned, you create your own luck, and the Rangers didn’t exactly do much to stop the offensive chances from flowing for the Bolts. They took a bunch of penalties, they had a bunch of blown coverages, they made poor decisions, and to make matters worse, they didn’t take advantage of their chances.

Such is life. The Rangers always lose Game Two. On to the goals:

Lightning 1, Rangers 0

With the Bolts down two guys, Dan Boyle and Martin St. Louis misconnected on a pass to the point, springing a 2-on-0 for Johnson and Alex Killorn. St. Louis makes a great effort to get back on defense, diving to disrupt Johnson’s shot, but the rebound ricochets off his body and behind Henrik Lundqvist before the net comes off the moorings.

Rangers 1, Lightning 1

With the Rangers on the powerplay, the puck worked its way to Boyle at the point, whose slap shot was deflected by St. Louis. Ben Bishop made the initial save with Chris Kreider in front. Kreider got to the rebound pretty easily and tapped it home.PPG.

Lightning 2, Rangers 1

With the Bolts on a 5 on 3, Steven Stamkos’ shot from the point was blocked by Dan Girardi. The puck took a bad bounce to Dominic Moore and then went back out to the high slot. Both Moore and Girardi went to get the puck out of the zone, but Stamkos was able to get it to Palat low. Ryan McDonagh played the pass across, as he should, but it gave time for Palat to tee it up.

Lightning 3, Rangers 1

Marc Staal blew a tire at the blue line, springing Palat and Johnson for a 2-on-1. Palat’s shot hit the post, and there was a big battle in front, where Johnson was eventually able to get his stick on a rolling puck and bank it off the post and in. Sometimes, the bounces all go one way. Last night it was Johnson’s turn.

Rangers 2, Lightning 3

Another powerplay goal for the Rangers. Another Boyle shot from the point that gets deflected by St. Louis on the way to the net. Bishop made the first save, and then the rebound save on Derek Stepan. But Stepan got his own rebound behind the net, and banked the puck off Braydon Coburn in front for the goal.

Lightning 4, Rangers 2

Victor Hedman caught the Rangers with four guys on the strong side and Killorn alone at the back door. He faked a shot to get Lundqvist to bite, and fed it over to Killorn through a wide open passing lane. Killorn had the empty net. There’s no one person to single out here for the Rangers, as they had four guys on the strong side.

Lightning 5, Rangers 2

Stamkos simply redirects Coburns point shot for the goal. He found a seam, and I can see people getting annoyed with Kevin Klein on this, as he doesn’t stick Stamkos. There’s certainly merit there, but if he doesn’t, then Valterri Filppula (I believe) is open low. Tough call.

Lightning 6, Rangers 2

Another powerplay goal for the Bolts. Another goal where no one picks up the guy behind the play. This time Killorn is open to get the rebound off Jason Garrison’s shot from the point. He was completely uncontested, Lundqvist stood no chance.

Lundqvist stood no chance on any of these honestly.

USAT/Fenwick Chart

rangers lightning playoffs 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

This is a whole lotta score effects in the third period. Through the first two periods, the teams were relatively even in shot attempts. The Rangers played better in the first period than in the second though, as Tampa closed the gap and a two minute series where they really controlled play. They were pretty flat after they took the two goal lead though.

Scoring Chances

rangers lightning playoffs 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

The Bolts didn’t need many scoring chances to convert. They just made sure they converted on the ones they got. The Rangers missed the net, or couldn’t get it over Ben Bishop.

Individual SAT/Corsi

rangers lightning playoffs 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

More score effects here, but you can tell the Lightning played a much better game.

Shot Locations

rangers lightning playoffs 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

The Rangers didn’t give the Bolts that many attempts, but they gave the Bolts good chances. A team like that will always convert on those chances. Worth noting that the charts are so bare because half this game was played on special teams.

Shift Chart

rangers lightning playoffs 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Alain Vigenault didn’t match up McDonagh/Girardi against The Triplets as much as he did last game. Granted, I don’t think the matchups mattered, since the Rangers forgot how to play defense anyway.

*-All of these charts were taken with four minutes left in the third. WOI was a bit behind with the charts, and it was late so I wasn’t waiting up. Since score effects were a big deal in the third period, it makes sense that we only look at the first two periods anyway.

Death. Taxes. Rangers lose Game Two. They are a solid road team. They will respond in Game Three on Wednesday.

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