The Rangers struggled to generate an offensive attack in the third period of Sunday’s loss to the Lightning in game three, as Tampa Bay turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory, and losing Ryan Strome was likely a big contributor to New York’s struggles to close out a win on the road.
Strome, a fixture on the team’s power play and the second line center, left the game in the second period after taking a light cross check to the back from Ondrej Palat, and after trying to return, went back to the locker room for good.
“He came back for one shift and he just wasn’t good enough, so we’ll know more tomorrow,” Gallant said after the game. “Hopefully he’s fine for the next one.”
Strome would be a big loss, as he has played in every game this postseason, logging nine points along the way. Losing the 28-year-old would make a tougher task for New York to steal a win on the road on Tuesday night and return to New York with a chance to clinch.
“Stromer is a big part of our team,” Mika Zibanejad said. “We haven’t rotated 11 and seven that much…it’s just trying to step up and do that job. Obviously, it's a big loss when Stromer's not playing with the way he’s been playing and the way that line has been playing.
“Can’t do much more than try to fill that spot and next man up. Big loss, but we have to keep working.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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