(SportsNetwork.com) – Ryan Callahan and the Tampa Bay Lightning will shoot for
a season-series sweep of the New York Rangers when the clubs meet for the
third time in two weeks in Monday’s clash at Madison Square Garden.
The Lightning are 2-0 against New York, and ex-Rangers captain Ryan Callahan
provided the offensive spark in both meetings. Callahan, who came to Tampa at
least season’s trade deadline in exchange for Lightning captain Martin St.
Louis, has four goals and an assist in his first two games against his old
club.
Callahan made his return to MSG a triumphant one on Nov. 17, posting two goals
to help the Bolts record a 5-1 win over the Blueshirts. He then added two
goals and a helper in Wednesday’s 4-3 victory in Tampa.
St. Louis, the Lightning’s all-time leader in points, recorded New York’s only
goal in the 5-1 rout on Nov. 17 but failed to reach the scoresheet in last
week’s return to Central Florida. He also is sporting a minus-five rating over
this season’s two meetings with the Bolts.
New York has rebounded from Wednesday’s loss in Tampa, as it swept a weekend
home-and-home series with the Philadelphia Flyers. Cam Talbot recorded a
shutout in Friday’s 3-0 win at Wells Fargo Center and Derick Brassard provided
two goals the following day to lead the Rangers to a 5-2 win at MSG.
Brassard’s second goal broke a 2-2 tie and was one of three scored by the
Rangers in the third period. Henrik Lundqvist returned to the crease after
getting Friday off, and New York’s No. 1 goaltender posted 21 saves to improve
his record this season to 9-6-3.
Jesper Fast netted his first NHL goal and added an assist for the Rangers, who
have won four of their last six games with the only losses in that stretch
coming against Tampa.
“We’re playing the right way and hopefully we’re on the right path,” said
Brassard.
Tampa has won three straight and four of the last five overall meetings in
this series and also has claimed two in a row and five of eight in the Big
Apple.
The Lighting have played only once since beating New York last week. Tampa
earned a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday to complete a three-game
homestand with a perfect record.
Jon Cooper’s club is 10-2-1 at home this season, but just 6-4-1 as the guest.
Ben Bishop made 26 saves and Tampa Bay scored four unanswered goals to top the
visiting Senators. Ottawa grabbed a 1-0 lead with a power-play marker late in
the first period, but Callahan would even the score in the second period
before the Bolts pulled away in the third.
Alex Killorn scored the eventual game-winner 76 seconds into the third period,
and Brenden Morrow and Nikita Kucherov added insurance goals for the
Lightning.
Killorn and Callahan each tallied a goal and an assist for the Lightning,
while Bishop improved to 14-3-2 this season.
“We’ve got a pretty dynamic bunch,” said Cooper. “When we’re pushing the pace,
we can get some things done.”
Victor Hedman made his return to the lineup for Tampa on Saturday and the
defenseman logged 19 minutes, 55 seconds of ice time. He had been sidelined
since Oct. 18 with a broken finger.
Lundqvist could start tonight for New York. He is 17-11-6 with a 2.33 goals
against average in 34 career games against Tampa. It’s uncertain if the
Lightning, who also play tomorrow in Buffalo, will go with Bishop or backup
Evgeni Nabokov on Monday.
New York are expected to get forward Chris Kreider back tonight after he sat
out Friday due to the death of his grandfather. Rangers forward Tanner
Glass is expected to miss a third straight game with a case of the mumps and
defenseman Dan Boyle is questionable for Monday with flu-like symptoms.
