Rick Nash and Henriq Lunqvist Lead Rangers to Game 4 Victory, Even Series at 2 Apiece

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

The Media were asking all sorts of questions and were trying to figure out what was wrong with Henrik Lundqvist.

Some of the fans were getting ready to jump ship. Some were already writing the epitaph of the New York Rangers; for it is always impossible to win a series when down 2-1 (That last part was complete sarcasm).

One scribe from the NY Post even asked Head Coach, Alain Vigneault if he was going to start Cam Talbot instead of Hank in Game 4. With all due respect to Cam Talbot; there was no way on earth that Hank was NOT going to start this game and he played magnificently.  Henrik was the Henrik of the early playoff season and the Rangers weathered a huge storm in the second and poured it on to win going away.

The Rangers remain undefeated on games played on Friday nights during this playoff run.

Rick Nash scored the first and fifth goal of the game for the Rangers in Game 4. The first one was a combination of speed, strength and determination; as he took a pass from Kevin Hayes that was right on the tape and sped in on Ben Bishop. The forward who tried to keep up with Monster Nash, was dropped like a bad habit by Nash who made a few moves and stuffed the puck past Bishop for the first goal of the game.

Steven Stamkos tied the score at 1-1 in the second period, and the Lightning were just pumping shots at Lundqvist, but no more went past Hank. In fact, the Rangers took over the period as Chris Kreider on a rebound and Keith Yandle on a deflection gave the Blueshirts a 3-1 lead, which they would never relinquish.

Then in the third, the Rangers scored twice more, both on the power play, which had gotten so much heat early in the playoffs, and is now clicking at a high rate.

First it was a great cross ice pass by Derick Brassard that found Marty St. Louis, who smashed it by Bishop on the one-timer. Then it was a shot by Kevin Hayes that was stopped by Bishop, but there was Rick Nash in front of the net and somehow got his stick on the puck and tucked it between the pads for the fifth and last goal of the game.

The end of the third period proved to be entertaining, as Tampa decide to act like spoiled brats and the penalties mounted up. The Rangers kept their collective cool, BUT did not let the Lightning walk all over them. They answered fire with fire and walked off the ice with a well-earned and dominant 5-1 victory to tie the series at 2-2.

The series will move back to MSG for Game 5 on Monday May 24th at 8:00PM EST, as the Rangers have recaptured home-ice advantage.

Scoring:

NYR: Rick Nash (3) Assisted by Kevin Hayes & Carl Hagelin

TBL: Steven Stamkos (6) Assisted by Alex Killorn & Valtteri Fippula

NYR: Chris Kreider (7) Assisted by Kevin Klein & Keith Yandle

NYR: Keith Yandle (1) Assisted by Kevin Klein and Rick Nash

NYR: Marty St. Louis (1) PPG Assisted by Derick Brassard & Dan Boyle

NYR: Rick Nash (4) PPG Assisted by Kevin Hayes & Keith Yandle

Team Stats                NYR                TBL

Shots on Goal            24                39

Power Play                2 for 4            0 for 4

Hits                    30                32

Face Off Wins            24                31

Giveaways                12                11

Takeaways                6                10

Blocked Shots            9                9

Goalie Stats:

Ben Bishop: 19 Saves on 24 Shots for a SV% of .792

Henrik Lundqvist: 38 Saves on 39 Shots for a SV% of .974

3 Stars of the Game:

3rd Star: Alex Killorn: 1 Assist

2nd Star: Rick Nash: 2 Goals and 1 Assist

1st Star: Henrik Lundqvist: 38 Saves on 39 Shots for a SV% of .974

Broadway Bits:

The NY Rangers are now 42-0-1 in games when leading after two periods

This game is only the second out of 16 playoff games this season that was not decided by one goal and the first the Rangers have won

Rick Nash scored twice and had one assist in the first multi goal game in his playoff career.

Marty St. Louis scored his first goal of this playoff season

The Rangers were two for four on the power play in Game 4, scoring both of them in the third period.

The Rangers were also four for four on the penalty kill, as they hold Tampa scoreless on the power play

After giving up 12 goals in the last two games, the Rangers held Tampa to but one goal in this Game 4

The Rangers score five goal in each of the last two (Games 3 and 4) for 10 goals in two against Ben Bishop

The Rangers have allowed 14 goals against the Lightning so gar in this playoff series.

The Blueshirts have scored 14 goals against the Lightning so far this playoff series.

The best of 7 is now a best of 3, as the series is tied at 2-2 and both teams have scored 14 goals

Kevin Klein and Kevin Hayes both had two assists in Game 4 versus Tampa

Keith Yandle had a goal and two assists in Game 4

Game 5 is back at the “world’s most famous arena”, on Sunday May 24th. Opening Face Off will be a little after 8:00PM