Henrik Lundqvist, to put it simply, has one job: If the Rangers manage to take a lead, keep it.
He takes that job to heart on nights like Tuesday. Led by Lundqvist's 36 saves and a scoring outburst from their top line, the Rangers grounded the high-flying Lightning with a 7-3 win to even their Eastern Conference finals series and force Game 7.
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Lundqvist was terrific, to be certain. But that was expected. He had won 14 of the last 17 games where the Rangers faced elimination in a playoff series. His numbers during those games — a 1.39 goals-against average, a .956 save percentage and two shutouts — were of the all-time great variety.
With his Rangers teammates dealing him a two-goal lead in the first period, Lundqvist turned aside 29 of 30 shots — including one robbery of Steven Stamkos to keep the score 1-0 — before the Lightning finally managed another goal halfway through the third. By then, though, the Rangers had the game under wraps, thanks to a five-goal explosion in the final frame that chased Lightning starter Ben Bishop.
Lundqvist being Lundqvist. #NYRvsTBL #StanleyCup https://t.co/usKj7Q8htW
— NHL (@NHL) May 27, 2015 All three players on the Rangers' top line, which had been enduring a dry spell in this series, scored four or more points — 13 in all. Derick Brassard led New York with a hat trick and two assists, and Rick Nash and J.T. Miller each had a goal and three assists. The last time a Rangers player had four points in a game? Flash back almost exactly one calendar year to May 27, when Chris Kreider did it in the playoffs last season.
Brassard also had 10 shots on goal in a game in which the Rangers were outshot, 39-34. He leads all Rangers scorers in the postseason with nine goals and 16 points in 18 games.
But back to Lundqvist.
With him between the pipes, few will bet against the Rangers heading into Game 7, which is set for Friday at Madison Square Garden (8 p.m., NBCSN). Lundqvist has won six straight Game 7s, including a 2-1 decision against the Capitals in the second round. In fact, he's allowed just five goals in those games for a .973 save percentage.
With the win, the Rangers improved to 7-0 in the playoffs when leading after two periods after going 42-0-1 in the regular season.
That's the formula: Get the lead. Lundqvist will do the rest.
Highlight:
It was former Ranger Ryan Callahan who had the prettiest goal of the night. But the unsung hero here is Anton Stralman, who makes a picture-perfect stretch pass to thread two Lightning defenders and spring Callahan on a breakaway. It was the first goal in 22 playoff games for Callahan.
Bishop turns aside Nash and makes another incredible save with his back on the rebound, but Miller eventually pokes it home during the ensuing scramble for the Rangers' third goal.
A look ahead:
Wednesday's game: Western Conference finals Game 6, Ducks at Blackhawks, 8 p.m. NBCSN