NHL Playoffs 2015: Latest Stanley Cup Scores, Standings and Predictions

The Tampa Bay Lightning appear to have figured out Henrik Lundqvist.

The New York Rangers goaltender is one of the best in the world, but the Lightning fired six shots by him for the second game in a row and took Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final Wednesday night, earning a 6-5 overtime triumph.  

Nikita Kucherov ended matters for the Lightning when he scored the winning goal 3:33 into overtime. The Lightning have a 2-1 lead in the series.

Ondrej Palat had two goals and one assist for the winners, while Jesper Fast scored two goals for the Rangers. New York trailed 4-2 and 5-4 in the game after taking a 2-0 lead, but the Rangers figured out Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop with five goals on 28 shots.

The Rangers had a problem confronting Tampa Bay's speedy forwards. They are going to have to figure out a way to slow down Tyler Johnson, Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn if they are going to square the series in Game 4 Friday.

Series	Standings	Last Game
Chicago vs. Anaheim	Series tied, 1-1	Chicago 3-2 (3OT)
Tampa Bay vs. N.Y. Rangers	TB 2-1	Tampa Bay 6-5 (OT)

Western Conference Final, Game 3: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks, May 21

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

These two teams could still be feeling the effects of Tuesday's triple overtime game in Anaheim.

The Chicago Blackhawks squared the series on Marcus Kruger's goal, and they hope to keep the momentum as the series moves to the Windy City.

However, it will take a lot more than home ice for the Blackhawks to hold their own in the rest of the series. Head coach Joel Quenneville's team is shorthanded on defense as a result of injuries, and the Ducks are playing a tough, physical game and trying to grind down the Chicago defense every chance they get.

Still, the Blackhawks are a sharp, talented and resilient team. They have won two Stanley Cups since 2010, and salary-cap issues could force this team to break up after the playoffs are over. As a result, Quenneville should have his team primed for a huge effort here.

Explosive winger Patrick Kane has been held in check throughout the first two games of the series, but he will score here and torment the Ducks.

Look for Chicago to score early, push the pace and hold on for the victory.

Prediction: Chicago 4, Anaheim 3

Eastern Conference Final, Game 4: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning, May 22

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Rangers had been consistent throughout the playoffs before dropping Game 2 at Madison Square Garden by a 6-2 margin.

There was no reason to believe the defensively sound Blueshirts would give up another half-dozen goals in Game 3; however, they could not tighten up their defense in Game 3, and they are now in a 2-1 hole.

The Rangers need to win in Game 4, or they will find themselves in the same 3-1 hole that they found themselves in against the Washington Capitals in the conference semifinal round. While they came back to win that series, it might be a huge problem to dig out of the same hole against the high-scoring Lightning.

The Rangers scored five goals and lost in Game 3, and another high-scoring game does not seem to be the proper strategy.

The Rangers have been winning most of their postseason games in a low-scoring manner. It's tougher to hold down the Lightning, but Lundqvist and the defense are going to have to be better than they were in Games 2 and 3.

We're backing the Rangers here, and they will find a way to square the series.

Prediction: New York Rangers 3, Tampa Bay 2 (OT)