New York Rangers

Two games into a series that was billed as a duel between the world's two best goaltenders, Igor Shesterkin has two wins over Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The Rangers seem to have figured something out with Vasilevskiy: His vulnerable spot is to the high blocker side. In Shesterkin’s case, most of the wins have very much belonged to him, and with 29 saves, so did this one. The Rangers were asking Igor Shesterkin to go win them the game. Obviously, we have a lot of trust in him and kinda let him do his thing. Obviously we try to limit the chances that he sees by blocking shots and doing those little things. For much of Friday night, it looked as if Game 2 against the Lightning wouldn’t have to be one of those nights for the Rangers. They were controlling the game.

Find out how to watch, live stream or TV channel and game time information for the Stanley Cup Semifinals Game 3 matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and ...

Lightning Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning host the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals, with the Rangers up 2-0. Lightning Lightning Lightning

From 2014 through 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning built a championship contending team through talent acquired from the New York Rangers.

In all, from 2014 through 2020, seven players who wore the Rangers jersey went on to play for the Lightning directly, while four more who were acquired through draft picks (either selections or trades) played at least one game with the franchise. First, he flipped Miller to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2020 first-round pick and a 2019 third-rounder, which was used to select goaltender Hugo Alnefelt. While they would fall once again in the Eastern Conference Final, the team looked primed to win a lot in 2018-19. After he came to the Lightning, the former Rangers’ captain used his presence to lure important free agents to Tampa Bay. In 2014, this included both Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle. In the deal itself, the Lightning acquired a starting veteran forward they re-signed to a long-term (albeit overpriced) contract, and numerous draft picks, one of which was used to select Anthony Cirelli. They also picked up Daniel Walcott with the additional seventh-rounder from New York, who has been a fantastic player on Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. From 2014 through 2020, there were many direct connections between the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Over the course of roughly five years, the Lightning steadily poached talent from New York through trades, free-agent signings, and even a few buyout candidates that they used to build out their young core with veteran talent.

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily in-depth look at the 2022 NHL postseason. There is one playoff game scheduled for Saturday, ...

The Rangers had scored on the power play in six straight games and in 11 of their first 15, but they were 0-for-4 in Game 2 and it did not deter them in a 3-2 win at Madison Square Garden to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. The Lightning hope returning home and the late momentum they generated to pull within a goal late in Game 2 will carry over to Game 3. New York has won eight consecutive postseason games on home ice and now hit the road, where Tampa Bay coach John Cooper will have the last change for Games 3 and 4. Tampa Bay hasn't been able to keep up with or slow New York's speed in the first two games of this series. The Avalanche are 5-0 on the road during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and have shown a penchant of not being intimidated by raucous crowds like the one they'll be playing in front of at Rogers Place on Saturday. Edmonton has been outscored 12-6 in Games 1 and 2 and must tighten up defensively if it hopes to get back into the series. Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily in-depth look at the 2022 NHL postseason.