That idea of Rangers coach Alain Vigneault being patient and not shortening his bench went out the window during the 2-0 loss to the Lightning in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Sunday night at the Garden, as Tampa Bay claimed a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Vigneault didn’t play fourth-line wing James Sheppard at all in the third period, gave Tanner Glass one shift in the third, and didn’t play top-six winger Jesper Fast for the final 10:22.
Asked after the game if Fast were physically OK in the third, Vigneault just responded, “Yes.