As always, GIFs from the game are up on www.newyorkrangersgifs.com. Any feedback to improve searchability would be greatly appreciated.

Derick Brassard delivered.

He doesn’t wear a letter, but the top line center for the New York Rangers delivered last night when facing elimination. Brassard notched a hat trick and two assists for the Rangers, as they forced Game Seven with a decisive 7-3 win in Tampa Bay last night. This game was Brassard and Henrik Lundqvist against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and if Lundqvist is the King, then Brassard was the Prince.

Lundqvist, who made 36 saves, was spectacular last night. Don’t believe me? Check out this save, and this save, and this save, and this save, and this save. The man was unreal all night. In a night where the Bolts dominated all but the third period, King Henrik bailed them out, while Prince Brass ensured this would be sent to New York.

On to the goals:

Rangers 1, Bolts 0

The Rangers do a good job as a team winning the faceoff, and then Dan Boyle hustles to prevent the puck from clearing the zone. His shot ricochets off Tyler Johnson to J.T. Miller, who gets it through Anton Stralman to Brassard. Brassard made a nifty move to his backhand before sliding it through Ben Bishop’s legs.

Rangers 2, Bolts 0

The Bolts turn the puck over at the Rangers blue line, which always leads to trouble against the Rangers. After a solid zone entry with possession and a chance on net, Brassard curled with possession at the circle and found Keith Yandle at the point. Yandle’s shot deflects off J.T. Brown, and Bishop couldn’t react in time.

Bolts 1, Rangers 2

After a bad penalty by Chris Kreider, which was in retaliation to Steven Stamkos boarding Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Callahan got behind the defense (McDonagh, Dan Girardi) while on the powerplay, and broke in after Stralman hit him with the pass to spring him.

Rangers 3, Bolts 1

After Brassard forced a turnover at the blue line, he sprung Rick Nash and J.T. Miller for a 2-on-1 the other way. Bishop made the first stop on Nash, then an unbelievable save on the rebound on Brassard. Brassard got his own rebound and threw it in front, where Miller was able to bank it in off Bishop, who never recovered after his best save of the season.

Rangers 4, Bolts 1

The Rangers forced a turnover at the Bolts blue line, and the puck took a lucky bounce to Tanner Glass. Bishop stopped his shot and then Dominic Moore’s rebound. But James Sheppard was able to bang home the third chance while crashing the net.

Rangers 5, Bolts 1

Rick Nash got the secondary assist on this goal, but it was his work that created the goal. Nash pressured Andrej Sustr from the center line back to the Bolts’ goal line before forcing the turnover. He got the puck to Miller, who made a beautiful pass to Brassard. Bishop didn’t have a chance. This goal chased Bishop for Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Bolts 2, Rangers 5

Tyler Johnson won the faceoff in the offensive zone clean, right to Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov changed the angle and just beat Lundqvist.

Rangers 6, Bolts 2

People are going to get on Nash for scoring on the powerplay while the game wasn’t close. But he did a good job hovering around the net. Neither Hedman nor Stralman picked him up in front. Yandle’s shot was stopped, but Nash got two whacks before beating Vasilevskiy.

Bolts 3, Rangers 6

This time the Bolts forced a turnover at the Rangers blue line, starting a rush up the ice. Johnson made an incredible pass to Kucherov over Kevin Klein and Marc Staal. Kucherov beat Hank over his shoulder.

Rangers 7, Bolts 3

Brassard completes the hat trick on an empty netter.

USAT/Fenwick Chart

rangers lightning 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

The Rangers held a 2-1 lead through two, but boy that was all on Lundqvist. The Bolts dominated through the first 40 minutes, and it wasn’t even close.

Scoring Chances

rangers lightning 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Much like the chart above, the Bolts dominated the quality chances too. This was ugly until the third when the Rangers started taking it to the Bolts.

Individual SAT/Corsi

rangers lightning 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

You need your big guns to produce, and that they did. Thirteen points for the top line, and look at how much they dominated possession. Great all around game for the top line.

Shot Locations

rangers lightning 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Now this scares me a bit, as the Bolts got a ton of chances from high risk areas. Lundqvist was almost perfect though.

Shift Chart

rangers lightning 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

This is consistent with what we’ve seen all series. McDonagh/Girardi got the Johnson line. Stamkos was given Staal and Klein. Jon Cooper seems comfortable with these matchups, and it’s tough to blame him. The top-six for the Bolts have scored all but one goal this series (the Callahan goal).

This game wasn’t perfect. The Rangers simply survived the first two periods. The Bolts made them run around, they made them chase, but it was Henrik Lundqvist that gave the Rangers a chance. Then it was Derick Brassard that made sure this came back home. Game Seven. Friday night.

Share: 

More About: