Rangers lose wild OT Game 3, 6-5, as Lundqvist struggles again

The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the midst of overthrowing “The King.” The Lightning registered their second consecutive six goal game against Henrik Lundqvist Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final as they dumped the Rangers, 6-5, in overtime at Amalie Arena to take a 2-1 series lead.

Nikita Kucherov’s left-handed shot just 3:33 into the extra session blew right past Lundqvist to give the Lightning the walk-off win.

The Rangers did show plenty of resiliency to get the game to overtime as they weredown 4-2 at one point in the second period and were down 5-4 with less than two minutes left in the third period. But a Dan Boyle goal scored off a faceoff due to an icing penalty kept the Rangers alive.

The second period featured a flurry of activity, with most of the action coming off the sticks of the Lightning. Tampa Bay tallied three goals on 12 shots in the period. Tyler Johnson found Palat streaking to the net and Palat tied it, 2-2. Johnson would then score one of his own three minutes after Palat’s strike as he took advantage of a sleeping Rangers defense. Alex Killorn’s goal at the 17:18 mark of the second gave the Lightning three straight goals, but as they have been all season, the Rangers proved to be the epitome of resilient.

Jesper Fast tallied his second goal of the night 29 seconds after Killorn’s lamp-lighter and, in the third period, Ryan McDonagh scored on a backdoor feed from Kevin Hayes to tie the game at 4.

Early on in Game 3, the Rangers took advantage of some sloppy Tampa Bay play, obtaining a 2-0 lead just 10 minutes in. Derick Brassard capitalized on a power play, beating a stunned Ben Bishop top-shelf and Fast beat Bishop on a breakaway.

Before New York got too comfortable, however, Steven Stamkos not only decked Hayes but also scored off a steal, getting an assist from Killorn.

The Rangers led, 2-1, after one period.

Tampa Bay put 40 shots on goal in Game 3, compared to just 28 for the Rangers.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven is Friday in Tampa (8 p.m., NBCSN).