3 Reasons Why the Rangers Will Win Game 7 vs. Lightning

The New York Rangers ambushed the Lightning in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a flurry of goals in the 3rd period to force a game 7 back home in Madison Square Garden on Friday night for a shot in the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Rangers have been very inconsistent throughout the postseason, but game 6 gave Rangers fans hope that the team has turned the corner.  Historically, Henrik Lundqvist is statistically one of the best game 7 goalie's in NHL history, but the Rangers are in the situation they're in not only due to Lundqvist.  Game 6 showed us how complete of a team the Rangers really are; so here is why the Rangers will skate their way straight to the Stanley Cup Finals.

1.)  Defense

In the games that the Rangers emerged victorious, their gritty defense stood strong in front of Lundqvist.  In game 6, the Rangers seemed to be checking Lightning players every chance they had, trying to slow down and wear put the opposition.  Ryan McDonough and Dan Girardi were strong in their time on the ice in the third period as their team had to prevent the Lightning from gaining any momentum.  With the extra day of rest in preparation, expect that pairing to play a considerable amount in game 7.  Defensemen Dan Boyle has looked re-energized facing his former team and has been making his presence felt on the boards as well as in the assist game, getting the puck where it needs to be in order for the Rangers to have scoring chances.

2.)  Goaltending

I guess it's just another case of Henrik being Henrik.  Lundqvist has had lapses at times throughout the postseason.  In games 2 and 3, he gave up a total of 12 goals; a feat which hadn't been done by a Rangers goaltender in over 50 years.  But Lundqvist bounced back strong in game 4 only giving up one goal and he always performs in big games.  This game 7 is nothing new to him, however, it is to Ligthning goaltender Ben Bishop.  Bishop is faced with the task of recovering from a tumultuous night in net Tuesday in which he gave up 4 goals before being replaced.  Bishop's confidence has to be very low at this point knowing that he is facing "The King" in game 7.  Bishop's margin for error is even less than Lundqvist's.  Advantage Rangers.

3.)  The Line of: Nash, Brassard, and Miller

This line came up huge in game 6.  Brassard's hat trick and 2 assists were vital to the offensive success of the Rangers.  Nash's offensive explosion is huge to the Rangers success.  The team's leading goal scorer this season, Nash is looked to by his teammates to provide that offense and he has done just that in the Rangers last two victories.  If Nash plays the way he did in game 4 and game 6, and crowds the crease in front of Ben Bishop, the Rangers will be able to score goals and we all know that Lundqvist doesn't need much to do his part to get the team the win.