Tampa wins the game 3-1. Tampa takes the series lead 3-2.

This was another very close game that ended with a last-minute dagger to the heart. The good news was that the Rangers played much better, a repeat of Game 4 would have been horrific. This loss was more depressing.

Both goalies played as well as their growing legacies predict. There were few penalties (many did not get called) and neither team scored on the power play. Solid defensive play from both sides really. The Rangers had a solid first period in particular, outshooting Tampa 8-3. Tampa ended up with 2 or three shots on goal and more high danger shots.

Ryan Lindgren was the first to score in the second period from a weird angle right next to the boards to the right of Vasilevskiy. It looked like nothing when it happened but hitting that back of the net stunned Vasilevkiy and made the Garden erupt. But Tampa tied the game a few minutes later on a screen play, Shesterkin didn’t get a good look at the shot.

The third period was a nail biter, each team doing their best to stay out of the penalty box. It was like everyone knew the next goal would come as a surprise and would likely call the game. Tampa did it with 1:50 left on another screen play with a deflection. The second robbery from Tampa. I’m not sure what was worse, this game or Game 3.

So now we’re in the worst-case scenario with Tampa one game away from winning the series with a home game. The Rangers didn’t split Tampa’s back to back home games and couldn’t get that one extra goal to take the series lead. The Rangers had a few great chances but didn’t cash in. The most brutal being Strome missing a pass from Copp in front of a wide-open net. It’s those scenarios that make champions. It’s so rare to get an open net chance that when it happens, you have to score. Those opportunities evaded the Rangers and Tampa was able to pull it off.

The pressure couldn’t be higher. The Rangers have been in this spot (and actually worse) for most of the playoffs but this one feels like the biggest mountain to climb. Tampa has this experience and the momentum so the sides feel more tilted. The Rangers could win tomorrow to force Game 7 and they’re going to need to go all out to do it. I expect a very physical game as Tampa is going to want to break out early to depress the Rangers.