Rangers Season Ends in Four Straight Losses to Lightning

LIGHTNING 2 - RANGERS 1 - TB wins Series 4-2 

The Rangers season came to a screeching halt Saturday night, like a strike of lightning (pun intended) in a 2-1 loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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A series that will be best remembered for the Rangers blowing a 2-0 series lead and a 2-0 score in Game 3 only to lost that game, en route to four straight losses to the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions.

The Rangers never led in Game 6. Trailing 1-0 for seemingly the entire night as they tried everything they could to get a shot in, and coming up short each time. Finally some seven minutes into the third period, the Rangers put the puck in the net on a shot by Frank Vatrano on a power play, tying the game at one.

For a little while, Rangers fans could feel that they had a chance.

That feeling lasted only 21 seconds when Steven Stamkos scored his second goal of the night to put the Lightning up 2-1. They wouldn’t need another score the rest of the way.

Igor Shesterkin who got better with each and every game of this postseason, finished with a 2.05 GAA in the playoffs. After a rough start against Pittsburgh in the opening round, Shesterkin was brilliant the rest of the way; he gave  his team a chance to win every night it touched the ice.

 So after a great season, the Rangers season is over. It was a season to remember, and one to build off of when they return to the ice in October.