5 Takeaways from Lightning vs. Rangers Game Four

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
1 of 6
Next

Oh, how the tables have turned. The Tampa Bay Lightning did what they had to in games three and four. They took care of home ice and will head back to New York level at two games apiece with the Rangers after seeming left for dead through two games.

In the last two outings, the Lightning have been playing their game. They have done a better job of not fueling the chances for the Rangers and the results have spoken for themselves as this series has now become a best of three.

Let’s get into what we took away.

(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

5. This Team is Never Dead

They proved in round one against Toronto and they have proved it again through four games against New York, the Lightning will never go away. As long as they are still standing, they have what it takes to keep standing.

New York was unable to bury them in game three after being up 2-0 in the second period, but they let the Lightning back in it. Most teams would have crumbled in that spot, not this team. The life they got from getting back into that game translated into a win and that turned into another win in game four.

You can almost sense how things have shifted in this series as the Lightning have seemed to come alive following their nine-day slumber. They did what they had to do and defended home ice, but now the test will be if they are able to keep the strong play going on the road.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. Finally Getting Something from Down the Lineup

The Lightning have not gotten much from their depth in this series. Through three games, they did not get any goals out of their bottom six forwards as their top guys and powerplay were  just about their only source of offense.

If they wanted to keep playing, that would have to change at some point and it did early in game four. Pat Maroon buried a rebound after Zach Bogosian dangled his way toward the Ranger net. That same combination clicked in game four against Florida for the series clinching goal.

Getting a goal from your fourth line always provides a jolt of energy to your team and they provided the jolt the Lightning needed in this game.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. Playing with the Lead

Despite the win in game three, the Lightning only led for a grand total of 42 seconds. In game two they held a brief lead before surrendering it about three minutes later. Game four marked the first time the Lightning have really gotten to play with the lead in this series after Maroon’s opening goal in the first period.

Tampa Bay loves to play while ahead. They are able to roll all of their lines, establish the way that they want to play and they can be play confidently with Andrei Vasilevskiy in net. The first goal in a game is always crucial in the playoffs, but for the Lightning, it has proven to be recipe for success over the last few playoff runs more often than not.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Owning the Play at Five on Five

Through games three and four in Tampa, the Lightning outscored the Rangers 5-0 at five-on-five. All three Ranger goals in the two games came on the powerplay. Yes, they obviously still count just the same but the team who plays better at five-on-five typically always wins over the course of a seven-game series.

You have to be able to score at five-on-five in the playoffs. There is no way around it. If the Lightning continue to defend the way they have and limit the chances for a hot Ranger powerplay, the Lightning already have their path to victory.

(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

1. Vasilevskiy is Where we Expect

After a slow introduction to the series, Andrei Vasilevskiy seems to have rounded into form now. There is no reason to expect for his play to decline the way things are currently going.

Game four was the first time in the series that Vasilevskiy ended up with a higher save percentage than Igor Shesterkin (.971 vs. .900). Vasilevskiy made 34 saves on 35 Ranger shots on Tuesday night.

By not being able to bury the Lightning in game three, the Rangers gave Vasilevskiy another chance to heat up and start to feel good about things. Now, it looks as though we will not see him reverting to what we saw through the first two games of this series.

Next. Ranking the Top Five Lightning Players from Round Two. dark

Next