from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune,

They keep finding ways to put their backs against the wall. The wall never seems that far away, does it? It’s a constant companion. The Lightning are infuriating that way. We can’t figure them out.

They might have backed into the wall one time too many, against the wrong customers.

It’s their own fault.

There will be a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals. Despite a great, gaping opportunity, the Lightning didn’t come close to closing out the New York Rangers in Game 6 at Amalie Arena. Note: The Rangers don’t like to be closed out. They blasted the Lightning, 7-3.

How do you roll out a miserable third period like that when you’re only one goal down and one win from the Stanley Cup finals?

How?

Even with the Rangers practically playing ragged prevent through two periods, begging to be beaten, they led 2-1 heading to the third. Well, maybe the New York goaltender wasn’t begging to be beaten.

And when push came to shove, the Bolts were blown away.

continued

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