Johnson's Game 2 hat trick lifts Bolts to series-tying win vs. Rangers
Thirty teams had the chance to draft Tyler Johnson. At least nine teams had the chance to sign him as a rookie free agent. Thank goodness for Tampa Bay it outdueled Chicago for his services.
Johnson continued to obliterate conventional wisdom about NHL size requirements with his best effort of the postseason on Monday. The Lightning center scored Tampa's first three goals — a natural hat trick — to pad his NHL postseason-leading goal total to 11 as the Lightning evened the Eastern Conference finals with a 6-2 thumping of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in Game 2.
"The bigger the game, the better he plays," Tampa coach Jon Cooper said. "That's Tyler Johnson. It's unreal to watch. He put the team on his back and we all followed."
Johnson has four multi-goal games in this year's playoffs.
Play of the day: Johnson completes the natural hat trick. He had to hack away at a loose puck in the crease after Odrej Palat hit the post to the right of New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist, but Johnson's 5-foot-8 frame was no deterrent. His goal gave Tampa a 3-1 lead and completed the first playoff hat trick in franchise history.
Turning point: Ben Bishop's back-to-back short-handed saves. Early in the third period, Rangers forward Derek Stepan went to the penalty box for tripping and Tampa went to the power play, looking to pad a 3-2 lead. Instead, the Rangers had a golden opportunity to tie the game on a short-handed 2-on-1. Bishop stopped Rick Nash, then made a terrific left pad save on Jesper Fast's rebound. As the Lightning power play expired, Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman slipped into an open space and fed Alex Killorn at the far post for a one-timer and a 4-2 lead.
GIF: not a great angle, but a replay of Bishop's huge shorthanded saves pic.twitter.com/ShDDd517o8
— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) May 19, 2015
Three stars
1. Tyler Johnson, C, Tampa Bay. Johnson scored short-handed, Johnson scored on the power play and Johnson scored at even strength.
2. Ben Bishop, G, Tampa Bay. Bishop made 35 saves. At least a half dozen of them were Grade-A scoring chances.
3. Alex Killorn, LW, Tampa Bay: Two goals, assist. Johnson overshadowed Killorn, but Killorn sprung Johnson for the breakaway goal that opened the scoring and Killorn scored the backbreaking goal early in the third period.
RECAP
Tampa Bay Lightning 6, New York Rangers 2
Series: Tied 1-1
Key stat: The Rangers are 2-10 in Game 2's since 2012 and 1-7 when winning the series opener.
Key stat II: Rangers goalie Lundqvist allowed six goals on 26 shots Monday. The only other time he allowed six goals in a playoff game was his first postseason appearance on March 22, 2006, vs. New Jersey.
Best visual: Brassard's theft thwarted. As the second period ended, Rangers pest Derick Brassard grabbed Tampa forward Steven Stamkos' stick and tried to take it into the Rangers locker room with him. Stamkos followed and politely insisted he return it.
— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) May 19, 2015
Best at being worst: Martin St. Louis, F, New York Rangers. The 39-year-old St. Louis was Mr. Clutch in last year's postseason. This year, he just looks old. St. Louis had a chance to put the Rangers on top early in the game, but completely bungled a feed in front of the net, forcing his shot well wide. A few minutes later on a New York power play, he couldn't handle Dan Boyle's pass and lost his footing as the sole Ranger high in the offensive zone. Killorn intercepted, Johnson went the other way for a short-handed breakaway goal and Tampa took the lead for good.
Best quote: "The entire way I kind of yelled 'drop pass' to (Alex) Killorn, but he was yelling, 'No, no, no.' I'm glad he was talking on it." — Johnson on the breakaway goal he scored with Killorn and Rangers forward St. Louis trailing him.
What we learned: We had a feeling Tampa's offense would find its groove at some point in this series. We didn't expect six goals, but the Lightning consistently generate chances with their speed and skill. As Tampa gets a better feel for the Rangers, it will find more opportunities. New York must up its offensive game if it's going to regain control of this series.
Next game: Game 3, Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
Final thought: Chicago's blue line took another hit Monday when news emerged that AHL defenseman Stephen Johns suffered a broken forearm that will sideline him four to six weeks. The Blackhawks were seriously considering Johns to replace David Rundblad, who struggled in Game 1 as a replacement for injured veteran Michal Rozsival (fractured ankle), who is also out for the season. Chicago also lost rookie Trevor van Riemsdyk for the season with a wrist injury in early April. The Blackhawks recalled Ville Pokka and 6-foot-8 Viktor Svedberg from Rockford of the AHL on Monday, but 28-year-old journeyman Kyle Cumiskey appears to be next in line to eat up No. 5 or No. 6 defensive minutes in Game 2 on Tuesday, depending on how much coach Joel Quenneville opts to play 40-year-old Kimmo Timonen.
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