Final
Rangers visit Stamkos and Bolts in Tampa
Nov 24, 2010 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - Hoping to avoid a goaltending controversy, Rangers head coach John Tortorella will go with the struggling Henrik Lundqvist in goal this evening versus the Lightning despite solid play by backup Martin Biron.All Lundqvist has to do is slow down the NHL's leading goal scorer.
The New York netminder will get his first start in five days on Wednesday in a road battle with Tampa Bay and Steven Stamkos at St. Pete Times Forum.
Lundqvist has averaged 35 wins over his first five NHL seasons, but has yielded 12 goals in his last four outings and is just 7-7-1 with a 2.75 goals- against average on the season. The 28-year-old was lifted early for the first time this season in Friday's road loss to the Avalanche, with Biron making the last two starts since replacing Lundqvist in that one.
Biron stopped 26 saves in a 5-2 victory at Minnesota before winning over the home crowd with 31 stops in Monday's 2-1 triumph over Calgary. The netminder improved to 5-2-0 with a 2.15 GAA this season.
"The physicality on our side of the game was top level," Biron said. "We responded really well (from our road trip). It was a great way to respond. Good signs for this team."
Dan Girardi had a goal and an assist and Brian Boyle also scored for the Rangers, who have won two straight and five of their last seven. They begin a three-game road trip tonight and are 7-3-0 as the guest.
Lundqvist is expected to kick start the swing and has won three straight and seven of his last eight against the Lightning with a 1.84 goals-against average. That includes a 30-save shutout in the last meeting on April 2 that improved him to 13-5-2 with a 1.93 GAA versus them lifetime.
Lundqvist will be tasked with stopping the league's most dangerous scorer in Stamkos, who has an NHL-best 20 goals through 21 games. He is also tied with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the league lead in points with 35.
After failing to notch a point for just the third time this year on Saturday in Buffalo, Stamkos became the fastest Lightning skater to reach 20 goals in Monday's 3-1 victory over Boston. The 20-year-old center shattered Chris Kontos' previous mark of 20 goals in the first 27 games of the 1992-93 season.
"We played solid, we got the three-goal lead," said Stamkos, who has just two goals in eight games versus the Rangers. "We need to find a way to keep pressuring them in the third, play with a lead. We kind of let up a bit, but it was a great game for us and we have to keep it going."
Teddy Purcell and Dana Tyrell also scored for Tampa Bay, which has won a season-best four straight games. The club hasn't won five straight since Nov. 7-16, 2007.
Mike Smith made 26 saves and has stopped 55-of-57 shots over two straight winning starts. He could earn a third consecutive one tonight and is 3-5-1 with a 2.88 GAA versus the Rangers lifetime.
Dan Ellis has split two meetings with New York, posting a 2.54 GAA.
Tampa Bay head coach Guy Boucher said on Monday that forward Simon Gagne could return to action tonight. Gagne has sat out 15 straight games with a strained neck and has yet to post a point in six games this season.
The Rangers have won three straight and seven of their last eight over the Lightning, but have split the last four in Tampa.
- NEW YORK: 3
TAMPA BAY: 5
Final
Nov 24 10:06 PM - NY Rangers Power-Play Goal - Derek Stepan (5), from Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto at 18:56.
Rangers 3, Lightning 5 3rd - 1:04Nov 24 10:02 PM - NY Rangers Short-Handed Goal - Brian Boyle (10), from Marc Staal at 12:51.
Rangers 2, Lightning 5 3rd - 7:09Nov 24 9:51 PM - NY Rangers Goal - Steve Eminger, from Derek Stepan at 3:58.
Rangers 1, Lightning 5 3rd - 16:02Nov 24 9:34 PM - NEW YORK: 0
TAMPA BAY: 5
End of Regulation
Nov 24 9:11 PM - Tampa Bay Power-Play Goal - Steve Downie (4), from Teddy Purcell and Martin St. Louis at 11:05.
Rangers 0, Lightning 4 2nd - 8:55Nov 24 8:56 PM - NEW YORK: 0
TAMPA BAY: 2
End of 2nd
Nov 24 8:15 PM - NEW YORK: 0
TAMPA BAY: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 24 7:38 PM
Related News
- It’s not an ending, it’s a new beginning Mar 30
- Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Game Day Thread Mar 30
- Goodbye (link to the new site in the story!) Mar 30
- Shesterkin Returning to Form at Right Time Mar 30
- Lightning Round: peering over at the rampant wild card race Mar 30
- Bantering Points: 3/30/23 Mar 30
- Rangers Sign Chytil to Four-Year Extension Mar 29
- Adam Sýkora Reassigned to Hartford Wolf Pack Mar 29
- Lightning Round: can the Bolts catch Toronto? Mar 29
- Bantering Points: 3/29/23 Mar 29
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recap: Bolts get clean win over Carolina Mar 28
- Recap: Blueshirts Bruise Blue Jackets, 6-2 Mar 28