Defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning cuts the streak to 2-1 in the NHL’s conference finals against the New York Rangers. The title holders of the past two years are already 2-0 down in the second third, but still turn the game around in a spectacular way.
Defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning has kept his chances to participate in the finals of the Stanley Cup again in the North American ice hockey professional league. Thanks to a late and spectacular comeback, coach Jon Cooper’s team won against the New York Rangers 3:2 and thus reduced the “best of seven” final series to 1:2.
The Czechs Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, each with their tenth play-off goal, initially gave New York the lead, but Tampa Bay’s star striker Nikita Kutscherow scored the goal. After the much-acclaimed equalizer by Steven Stamkos, it was again Kutscherow who initiated the win with his assist to Ondrej Palat 42 seconds before the end of regular time. The Czech nailed the puck into the goal with a direct acceptance worth seeing. He completed a wonderful play from the defending champion’s top line.
The Rangers around coach Gerard Gallant had previously created a good starting position for the finals with two victories in Madison Square Garden and underpinned their ambitions for the first title since 1994. The Rangers last played for the Stanley Cup in 2014. On Wednesday night (2 a.m.), Tampa Bay, champions of the past two years, has home rights again.
In the West Final, top German striker Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are almost hopelessly behind 0:3 against the Colorado Avalanche. The superstar was again without a goal and template in the 0: 4 in Colorado. For the second year in a row, after becoming the first player in NHL history to provide multiple assists in six consecutive playoff games. In the fourth game on Tuesday night (2 a.m.) a win at home is mandatory to avoid a quick end.