Lightning win third straight to take 3-2 lead over Rangers in Eastern Conference Final
The Tampa Bay Lightning snapped the New York Rangers' eight-game home winning streak and took a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Final with a 3-1 win on the road in Game 5 on Thursday night.
After a scoreless first period, New York struck first with a second period goal from Ryan Lindgren. Seven minutes later, Tampa Bay tied the game when defenseman Mikhail Sergachev scored his first goal of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Sergachev didn't have to wait long for his second goal of the playoffs. The Lightning defenseman got to play the role of hero with his second goal of the game, giving Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead with less than two minutes left.
The Lightning sealed the deal 51 seconds later with an empty-net goal from Brandon Hagel.
Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 24 saves and has now allowed four goals in the last three games.
The winner of the series will advance to face the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning have only come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a series once in franchise history.
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