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Johnson Strikes Lightning In Game 2 VS Rangers

Posted By: Lisa Donovan on 5/19/2015

This was a must win game for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay made a statement on Monday night with a 6-2 win over the New York Rangers.

The one player who stood out was Tyler Johnson. Johnson got 2 goals in the first period and ended up getting a hat trick to put the Lightning up 3-1 in the second period. Johnson's first goal came on a short handed 5 on 3 power play as a 4th man for the Lightning got back on the ice as Johnson was skating towards the net. Martin St. Louis crashed into the net causing the net to fall apart. Since Johnson shot the puck before the net moved outside the crease along with the fact that St. Louis plays for the Rangers, after once playing for the Lightning, Johnson's goal counted.

Tampa Bay dominated this game after a sluggish game 1 performance at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The Lightning were limited to 26 shots on goal in game 1. The Rangers' kept talking about how they did a great job keeping Tampa Bay from getting shots on goal on NHL Network before the game.

It seems pretty evident that the Lightning were motivated by not generating enough scoring chances and corrected that on Monday. Now the next two games are in Tampa Bay. The series now works in Tampa's favor because they have the momentum following a statement win and two home games. If the Rangers can win one on the road, they will have control of this series once again, but at this point the Lightning

Tyler Johnson was the star in Game 2, but other guys stepped up as well. Steven Stamkos scored in the third period to put the Lightning up 6-2. Victor Hedman did a brilliant job generating scoring chances and prevented 2 goals with his defensive play. Ben Bishop was brilliant behind the pipes. When Johnson gets a hat trick and those 3 players step up as well, it's going to be a long night for anyone facing the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Game 3 will be Wednesday night in Tampa Bay on NBC Sports Network. The Lightning need to build off of their game 2 momentum by winning in front of their home crowd. Tampa Bay was packed in the first two rounds of the 2015 NHL Playoffs, and it will be packed once again on Wednesday.

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