Stamkos put Lightning ahead for good in the third period, just 21 seconds after New York’s Frank Vatrano scored in the power play with Lightning in the penalty shootout. Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat helped the winner with 6 1/2 minutes left, with the elf deflecting from Stamkos’s knee into the net after Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin stopped the opening shot. Stamkos also scored in a wrist shot from the top of the right circle in the middle of the second period. Andrei Vasilevsky finished with 20 saves for Lightning, who won the series 4-2 – hitting four straight wins after losing their first two games on the road – to advance to the Stanley Cup final against the Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning are the first team to make three consecutive appearances in the Cup final since Edmonton did so in 1983-85. They are trying to be the first to win three consecutive championships since the New Yorkers claimed four consecutive games from 1980-83. The Rangers, with 3-2 in a row for the third consecutive round, were 5-0 in the knockout games this season before Saturday night. The only teams to win six or more playoff games in a single season were the 1975 New York Islanders (eight), the 2014 Los Angeles Kings (seven) and the 2003 Minnesota Wilde (six). The Rangers lost three of their first four games before winning three consecutive knockout games to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. They lost the first two on the road to Carolina before rebounds to chase the Hurricanes in seven games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a completely different story on Saturday night, with the Lightning limiting New York’s goal opportunities as they beat the Rangers 31-21. Vasilevski made large areas without being tested. He conceded just seven shots in the opening period, six in the second and eight in the third. Shesterkin, meanwhile, stopped 29 of 31 shots and made a big save after a long rebound to give New York a chance. NOTES: Lightning played again without striker Brayden Point, who has lost 10 games since suffering a lower body injury in Tampa Bay’s 7th win over Toronto in the first round. He was the NHL top scorer for the previous two seasons. Lightning defender Victor Hedman left in the second period after New York’s Alexis LaFrenier appeared to be elbowing him on the head. He returned at the beginning of the third period. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Denver. Watch it on Sportsnet at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
