Deserved better.
TB-3
NYR-4 (OT)
Mathieu Garon [5] allowed 4 goals on 31 shots for the overtime loss.
First Period
TB Stamkos (36), (Connolly, Wyman), 18:56
Second Period
NYR Callahan (18), (Del Zotto, Stepan)(PP), 4:33
NYR Stepan (11), (Girardi, Gaborik), 5:27
TB Lecavalier (21), (Purcell, Gilroy), 5:48
TB Gervais (4), (Stamkos, St. Louis)(PP), 12:26
Third Period
NYR Boyle (5), (Hagelin, Stralman), 10:13
Overtime
NYR Richards (17), (Anisimov, Del Zotto), 2:37
The shot totals don't reflect it, but I thought that, on the balance, the Lightning outplayed the Rangers. They had excellent puck movement and puck possession, even on the much maligned power play, and they had a lot of good chances. Unfortunately, the Rangers got kind of a lucky goal to tie the game at 3, and once you get to the 4-on-4 in OT, the smallest mistakes can end up in the back of your net with that much open ice. It speaks well that the Lightning could have such a competitive showing against one of the best teams in the East, but moral victories count for nothing at this time of year.
Brett Connolly [6] had an assist and was +1 with 1 shot and 1 hit in 3:52. His next game will mark his graduation from prospect status on Bolt Prospects, at which point we'll finally be able to move on our Midterm Rankings update.
J.T. Wyman [7] had an assist and was +1 in 6:01.
Box score [8] and extended statistics [9] from NHL.com.