JOHNSON STRIKES, GETS LIGHTNING EVEN
Hat trick gives center 11 goals during playoffs
Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson almost ran out of ways to hurt the New York Rangers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final.
Johnson scored a short-handed goal, a power-play goal and an even-strength tally for the first playoff hat trick in Lightning history to lead Tampa Bay to a 6-2 win against the New York Rangers that tied the best-of-seven series 1-1.
The diminutive center has 11 goals in 15 games to put him among the favorites for the Conn Smythe Trophy should the Lightning advance to the Stanley Cup Final. He has been the most dangerous offensive player in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby’s 15 goals in 2009 were the most playoff goals scored by an NHL player over the past decade.
The six goals scored by the Lightning were the most given up in this postseason by Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He had given up two or fewer in 10 of the last 11 games.
Alex Killorn scored twice in the third period for the Lightning, who came into Monday’s game with the announced intention of trying to be stronger in 5on-5 play.
Johnson, an American player who was never drafted, scored short-handed at 5:38 of the first period to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead. The Lightning are 7-0 in these playoffs when they score first.
After Rangers forward Chris Kreider tied the score at 8:50 of the first period, Johnson added a power-play goal to put Tampa Bay back in the lead.
He scored at even strength at 8:17 of the second period during a wild scramble in front of Lundqvist.
Johnson’s linemates, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov, combined for three assists. The Triplets line, as the trio is called, has totaled 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points. Johnson has four multiple-goal games.
At 5-8, Johnson was considered too small during his NHL draft year, and now he is having a bigger impact than anyone else in the postseason.
He has four game-winners in these playoffs.
The outcome ended the Rangers’ streak of playing 15 consecutive games decided by one goal.
When the Lightning were holding on to a 3-2 lead in the second period, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman saved a goal by throwing his body down in front of an empty net as James Sheppard tried to jam the puck home.
Steven Stamkos added another goal for the Lightning, who were the NHL’s top-scoring team in the 2014-15 regular season. Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop made 35 saves.
The series shifts to Tampa Bay for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Friday.