Johnson Hat Trick: Tyler Johnson is mobbed by teammates after scoring a hat trick in the Lightning’s 6-2 win over the Rangers in Game 2.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

The series is all even. In typical fashion, the Rangers did what they always do in home Game 2’s when leading one game to none. Rather than put their feet firmly on the Lightning, they let them up in a listless Game 2 dropping it in ugly fashion 6-2 at MSG.

Tyler Johnson was a one man highlight reel becoming the first Lightning in franchise history to record a hat trick. The leading Bolt dominated by scoring shorthanded, on the power play and at even strength. In fact, Johnson had accounted for all three of Tampa’s goals through two periods and six of their 15 shots as they held onto a 3-2 lead.

Thanks to some big stops from Ben Bishop including consecutive saves to deny Rick Nash and Jesper Fast shorthanded at the start of the third, Tampa was able to withstand a strong Rangers push. That came following a Derek Stepan power play goal in which the heady center stayed with it following his own shot by banking the puck off Braydon Coburn at 14:17 of the second to cut the Bolts’ lead to 3-2. Ironically, it was a undisciplined Stepan tripping minor at 1:02 of the third that forced the Rangers to kill off a penalty.

However, following Bishop’s biggest saves of the game including a pad denial on Fast on a shot he couldn’t elevate, the game turned when the Rangers were unable to clear the zone after Stepan’s penalty expired. Instead, the skilled Lightning worked the puck around to perfection with Victor Hedman brilliantly feeding a wide open Alex Killorn for a back breaking goal at 3:09 giving them some breathing room. Valtteri Filppula started it with a cross-ice pass to Hedman whose diagonal feed found Killorn all alone with Henrik Lundqvist out of position for an open side that he fired home.

The Rangers continued to try but a foolish Derick Brassard high-sticking minor on Nikita Kucherov basically dashed their comeback hopes. On the ensuing power play, Tampa Bay put it away when a Coburn left point shot was neatly redirected by Lightning captain Steven Stamkos making it 5-2 with 13:32 left. Kucherov notched a secondary helper collecting his third point (all assists).

Unlike Game 1 in which they prevailed 2-1 on a Dominic Moore deflection late, the Rangers got into the wrong kind of game against an opportunistic Lightning who took advantage of every Ranger mistake. The first period was so sloppy that the teams combined for seven penalties. Remarkably, consecutive penalties from Brian Boyle and Jason Garrison handed them a five-on-three. But an awful Martin St. Louis turnover on a Dan Boyle pass resulted in Johnson converting shorthanded from Killorn just as Brian Boyle’s penalty expired.

After failing on the first two power plays, the Rangers were able to cash in on their third try thanks to Chris Kreider, who followed up a St. Louis shot rebounding it past Bishop to draw even at 8:50. Dan Boyle started it and notched the secondary helper against his former team.

But neither team could stay away from the penalty box. That played into Tampa Bay who are much more dynamic at special teams. After Ryan Callahan took an even up penalty with Kreider already in the box, Stepan took an ill advised trip handing the Lightning a four-on-three man-advantage. On it, the gifted Johnson got to a Stamkos set up in front and absolutely whistled a perfect shot into the top corner over Lundqvist putting his team back ahead at 11:15. The kind of skill that makes one wonder how nobody drafted him. I always was a fan since he teamed with Stepan and Kreider on Team USA when they won gold at the World Junior Championship in 2010.

Tyler Johnson closes in for his third goal of the game with Henrik Lundqvist out of position. The goal counted due to Johnson getting his stick on the puck after Nikita Kucherov’s kick.
AP Photo by Julia Jacobson/Getty Images

Another turning point came in the second when Marc Staal fell down at the left point allowing Johnson and his Triplets to come in three-on-two. Prior to the well executed odd-man rush, rookie Kevin Hayes had a great chance on a Rangers odd-man but passed up a shot on Bishop which resulted in a wasted opportunity. Sometimes, you have to be a little greedy. When Johnson and linemates Kucherov and Ondrej Palat came the other way, Kucherov set up Palat who hit the post with the shot. The puck caromed behind Lundqvist right to Kucherov and Johnson. Kucherov kicked the puck but Johnson got his stick on it to put it past the goal line for the hat trick. Due to Kucherov’s kick, they went upstairs to Toronto but video review confirmed that Johnson got it making it a good goal. That gave the Bolts a 3-1 lead.

How wild was the second? At one point, linesman Brad Kovachik was injured by the combo of Stamkos and Klein who collided with him against the boards causing a sprained knee. In obvious pain, he was helped off the ice. Greg Devorski was the standby replacement. Sadly, Kovachik is done for the playoffs.

Derek Stepan celebrates his power play goal which cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second period. But a bad penalty at the start of the third proved costly.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

Despite trailing by two, the Rangers kept coming. They were controlling most of the play five-on-five with the exception of a ridiculously long shift from the Triplets. Moore drew an interference minor on Craig Paquette who complained about Moore embellishing it. On the power play, the Rangers wasted little time with Boyle and St. Louis setting up Stepan who was denied once by Bishop. But with Bishop down, he got to the loose puck behind the net and sent it off the back of Coburn’s leg for his third goal in three straight cutting the deficit to one with 5:43 left.

They came very close to tying it. On a strong shift from the fourth line, James Sheppard had a great chance with Bishop down but Anton Stralman prevented him from converting a backhand wraparound. If he’s not there, the game gets tied and who knows how it turns out. Despite allowing Johnson’s hat trick goal, the Rangers outshot the Lightning 11-6 in the period and led in shots 22-15. It didn’t matter due to their lack of discipline. Their sloppiness came back to burn them.

In the third, they kept taking penalties. Stepan’s second tripping minor gave the Lightning a power play. The Rangers nearly scored shorthanded but Bishop made the saves of the night first denying a Nash bid and then robbing Fast with the back of his pads leaving the rookie frustrated that he didn’t elevate it. If he scores there, it could’ve been a very different story. Instead, the Bolts kept the play alive after Stepan returned and Hedman set up Killorn’s first for 4-2.

Brassard’s second minor led to Stamkos’ power play tally on a ridiculous deflection of a Coburn shot from Kucherov making it 5-2 3:19 later. The Rangers got 15 shots on Bishop put he stopped them in their tracks and outplayed Lundqvist, who allowed six goals on 26 shots. His worst outing since his postseason debut. A forgettable 6-0 blowout at the hands of the Devils in 2006. Killorn got his second tally on another power play after Tanner Glass went off for a rough and misconduct.

So, it’s another series that’s tied after two games. That’s what the Rangers do. Now, they’ll have to go to Tampa and face one of the best home teams in a loud environment. Game 3 is Wednesday night at the same time. We’ll see how they respond to such a brutal performance.

Killorn Kills It: Alex Killorn buries a shot past an outstretched Henrik Lundqvist for a key insurance marker.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Victor Hedman, Bolts (primary assist on Killorn’s back breaker, 3 SOG in 5 attempts, +1 in 25 shifts-23:05)

2nd Star-Alex Killorn, Bolts (2 goals-4, 5, assist, +2 in 27 shifts-20:42)

1st Star-Tyler Johnson, Bolts (1st career playoff hat trick-9, 10, 11, SHG, PPG, ES, +2 in 25 shifts-16:58-3-1-4 in series)

Quotable:

”I think every morning I’m just happy to be here and I’m living my dream. So that’s what’s driving me is to try to be the best I can and play for my family. They sacrificed so much for me to be here, and I’m living my dream, so I want to keep living it as long as possible.”-Lightning 1st Star Tyler Johnson