TAMPA, Fla. – Go ahead and try to get a Rangers player to talk about himself.
Good luck with that.
There is a good chance that the Lightning will try to score against Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin.
The Rangers have credited their teammates with becoming a regular during their magical journey through the Stanley Cup playoffs, with the next stop on Sunday at 3pm against the Lightning in Game 3 of the Amalie Conference Finals Arena, where they try to make it 3-3. 0 series lead.
After the Rangers’ 6-2 win in Wednesday night’s first game at Madison Square Garden, Mika Zibanejad, who has become a constant sniper in the circle in these playoffs, was asked about his great night, which included a fake slap. feed Chris Kreider for the first goal and a rocket from his own stick for the last goal.
He spent a few moments crediting all the other players around him and didn’t say a word about himself.
Rangers center Tyler Motte congratulates goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin.USA TODAY Sports
After 2 minutes of play, Kaapo Kakko had scored three goals – a hat trick! they were on the ice with him. in that turn and talked about how easy it was for his job to throw the record on the net.
The chemistry of the Rangers is real. It is evident throughout the team. And the deeper the Rangers get into these playoffs, the more active they will be. Confidence is palpable.
“I’ve been noticing it since day 1,” Central Tyler Motte, who was acquired in an exchange with Vancouver on March 21, said Saturday about the strange chemistry of the team.
“Actually,” Motte corrected himself, “before day 1. 10 minutes after I was changed, I received several text messages from guys who greeted me on board, saying they were excited to have me of the group.
“This just demonstrates the character of the people we have in the locker room and the organization,” Motte continued. “This has always been proven on the ice. You guys always give credit to the next one. That’s an important attribute to have. Obviously there’s a goal in mind and if everyone is pushing towards that goal, chances are you’ll have more success in it “.
The Rangers, who have not won the Stanley Cup since 1994, are two wins away from playing in the final.
“I think there was chemistry in our team from day 1,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said Saturday from the team’s hotel. “The boys have been disappointed in recent years not to be in the playoffs, not to make a good streak. From day 1, many of those veteran boys took a step forward and helped their group and brought the children. There are many children on our team, but they have made great strides for us.
“Our veterans are very good and talented hockey players, but they brought everyone together and that’s important. The boys are shopping. Every little thing counts now, and that’s what we’re doing best so far.
“It simply came to our notice then. Coaches can’t be there all the time telling them what to do, this and that. When you have veteran leadership out there doing that is when you know you have a good hockey team, a good team. “