The simple fact is that New York Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin has outplayed the Tampa Bay Lightning’s goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy in all three games of the Eastern Conference finals. Athough Vasilevskiy had his best game of the series thus far; really, it was no different in Game 3.
However, this time, the Lightning just kept coming and, in the end, it seemed that no matter how many Shesterkin stopped the Lightning skaters were just going to keep firing until they were successful.
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The Bottom Line Is that the Lightning Were the Better Team
In the end, it was a 3-2 win by the Lightning over the Rangers in Round 3’s Game 3 last night. Shesterkin stopped 48 of 51 shots that Tampa Bay put on the net, and Vasilevskiy stopped 28 of 30. Shesterkin was the winner in the battle of the goalie numbers; however, the Lightning came roaring back from a 2-0 deficit to score the game winner later in the third period.
Even Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant admitted that the Lightning “were the better team tonight overall.” Gallant noted that the game ”went right down to the wire and (his team) had a chance to win late.” As he said, it was disappointing ,but the’ll “move on and get ready for the next one.”
The Rangers Had a 2-0 Lead, But Couldn’t Hold It
The Rangers had a 2-0 lead about halfway through the second period; however, the Lightning kept shooting on net and eventually scored. There was no fault for Sherterkin on this game; he played excellent throughout the entire game.
During the third period alone, the Lightning totaled 19 shots while the Rangers only had six. In that period, the Lightning scored twice got the game-winning goal with less than a minute in regulation time.
Penalties Almost Did the Lightning In
Andrei Vasilevskiy also played well in stopping 28 of 30 shots on goal. But he gave up two power-play goals to the Rangers during period two. Still, as noted, Game 3 was the best Vasilevskiy has played in this series. Until the Rangers took advantage of having the extra man in the power play, both goalies went save for save.
Igor Shesterkin vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy.
That’s it.
The Eastern Conference will be a goaltending duel for the ages.
Rangers vs. Lightning playoff preview from @domluszczyszyn and @hayyyshayyy: https://t.co/gSPFVdMmgx pic.twitter.com/whTlHnjntO
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) May 31, 2022
The Lightning needed the win badly. Currently, the Rangers hold a 2-1 series advantage going into Game 4 on Tuesday night on the Lightning’s home ice.
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