Champions turned into the semi-finals against New York Rangers
New York. Tampa Bay Lightning is their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final victory.
They won the tug of war again against the New York Rangers after a late winning goal last night and can now determine the entire semi-final at home at the Amalie Arena on Sunday night.
“It’s definitely going to be the toughest game of the entire series, but these are the nights you live on,” Victor Hedmann told Sportbladet after the 3-1 victory at Madison Square Garden.
“They know how to win…”.
This is how the Stanley Cup double champion from West Florida is singled out, and that statement was actually validated at Madison Square Garden last night.
The fifth round of the Eastern Conference Final was a strikingly fragile and foul duel without much structured play.
Most noticeably, both teams scored random goals each in the second half and when the minutes passed in the final act, everything indicated that a long drama awaited.
But what happens next often happens when teams with a rich experience of intense drama drag on until all is said and done.
I decided in an empty cage
Hill Mikhail Sergatjev sent an all-time great puck off the blue line, through the traffic, and Ondrej Palat – the true Rangers fighter from Czech Moravia-Silesia – ruled 2-1 behind Igor Sestyurkin.
Before the final whistle blew, Brandon Hagel also managed to score 3-1 into the empty net, so Tampa Bay has a penalty kick.
If they also win Game Six, at home at the Amalie Arena on Sunday night, they are ready for their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final — this time against the Colorado Avalanche.
– Of course it feels great, he says Victor Hedman When we talk to him after the last sign in New York.
We knew we needed to win at least one game here and now we did it and gave ourselves the opportunity to make the decision at home. It would be nice to take things easy tonight and then go home on Friday and start recharging for the next task.
However, the 31-year-old linebacker – who helped achieve the crucial Palat goal – has been involved for far too long until he touches the idea that the series is set.
– No, winning the next game will be very difficult, and Rangers will certainly be responsible for their best efforts in the entire series, he continues.
– But we’ll also make sure we give our best game and I’m looking forward to it, it’s live on evenings like this.
believes in transformation
In the Rangers camp, they try to prepare themselves with the knowledge that they have been bad at times even in duels against Pittsburgh and the Carolinas.
We lost 3-2 in every series and moved on anyway. We believe in ourselves and we can do it again, says striker Andrew Cope.
Match 6 between Tampa Bay and New York Rangers Played Sunday night, 02.00, Swedish time. The match is broadcast on Viaplay.