Johnson’s hat trick helps Tampa Bay tie series vs. Rangers

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Tyler Johnson is carrying the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoff and making more than a name for himself.

The 24-year-old is becoming one of the front-runners to be the postseason MVP.

Johnson scored short-handed, even strength and on the power play in tallying the first hat trick in Lightning playoff history and Tampa Bay got its high-scoring offense in gear and evened the Eastern Conference finals with a 6-2 victory over the stumbling New York Rangers on Monday night.

Alex Killorn added two goals and Steven Stamkos had one and the Lightning bounced back from a crushing late loss on Saturday and made the Presidents’ Trophy winners pay for every slip, penalty and mistake.

Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan scored for the Rangers in the wide-open, penalty-filled matchup that ended New York’s run of playing in 15 straight playoffs games decided by one goal.

Henrik Lundqvist, who gave up at least five goals in two of three regular-season games against Tampa Bay this season, gave up six on just 26 shots.

The series shifts to Florida for games on Wednesday and Friday.

Ben Bishop had another big game for the Lightning, making 35 saves. Both Rangers goals came on the power play.

The Rangers were just sloppy. Players falling led to two Lightning goals on odd-man rushes. Tampa scored three times on the power play, once short-handed and once just after a power play ended.

New York committed way too many mistakes against a team whose speed and skill can embarrass you.

Johnson came into the game leading the NHL with eight postseason goals and he increased the total to 11 before the second period was over in giving the Lightning leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1.

The first was short-handed as a two-man disadvantage was expiring. The second came on a power play and the last was even strength.

The Rangers were late into a 1:07 two-man advantage when Martin St. Louis fell trying to take a shot straight on and it sent Johnson on a breakaway with St. Louis in pursuit.

Lundqvist stopped Johnson’s initial shot, but Johnson poked at the puck as St. Louis crashed into his own goaltender and the puck went in the net. The officials waved off the goal, but it was reviewed the call was overturned.

The Lightning continued to take penalties and Kreider made them pay three minutes later, putting in the rebound of St. Louis’ shot.

Johnson’s second goal came on a great shot just 15 seconds after Stepan was called for tripping, which was the third minor in a 60-second span. It gave the Lightning a 4-on-3 advantage and Johnson found the top corner of the net in close after getting a 2-on-1 advantage down low.

The hat trick was capped at 8:17 of the second period and, like the first, it resulted from a slip. Rangers defenseman Marc Staal fell at the Tampa Bay blue line and it set up a 2-on-1. Ondrej Palat hit the goalpost, but Johnson knocked the puck into the net off a scramble. It was also reviewed but this one stood.

The Rangers pushed back later in the second period and closed the gap to 3-2 when Stepan grabbed his own rebound and banked the puck off defenseman Braydon Coburn into the net with Bishop out of position.

New York had a couple of chances to tie the game later in the period, but Bishop stopped point shots by Dan Boyle and Ryan McDonagh.