Anton Stralman lingered in his zone for a moment, as the Rangers retreated and the Lightning turned and headed up ice. For much of the game until this point, about 13 minutes into the second period, the Rangers had looked like the better team, skating harder, faster, creating the better chances. But all the Lightning needed to score was the puck and an opening.
Stralman surveyed the ice, the way a quarterback surveys a defense, then zipped a pass off the boards to Steven Stamkos, leading him to an open space. Suddenly, the Lightning had an odd-man rush.