NHL Playoffs 2015: Latest Stanley Cup Scores and Predictions

The New York Rangers wanted to bring their best game to Tampa Bay in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Their backs were to the wall after they were blanked 2-0 in Game 5 at home, and they had to come with more effort and more emotion.

Prior to the game, Derick Brassard told NBCSN's Pierre McGuire that the Rangers needed a better start. They got that and much more, as they rolled over the Lightning with a 7-3 victory. The series is tied 3-3, and the decisive seventh game will be played at Madison Square Garden Friday night.

Brassard was the catalyst for the Rangers' solid start and even better finish. He contributed the opening goal of the game, and he also scored the finale. He had one more for the hat trick, and he added two assists as well.

J.T. Miller had a goal and three assists for the Rangers, as did Rick Nash.

The Lightning dominated much of the second period, but they couldn't get a goal that would have tied the score at 2-2. Instead of pressing harder in the third period, they hesitated, and the Rangers took the play to them in the final period. New York outscored Tampa Bay 5-2 over the last 20 minutes and turned a close game into a rout.

The big issue for the Lightning may be the goaltending of Ben Bishop. He was pulled from the net after he gave up his fifth goal of the game, and he has now given up five goals in three of the last four meetings with the Rangers.

Matchup	Series Standing	Last Game
Anaheim Ducks vs. Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim, 3-2	Anaheim 5, Chicago 4 (OT)
Tampa Bay Lighting vs. New York Rangers	Series tied, 3-3	New York 7, Tampa Bay 3

Game 6: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks, May 27

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

The Chicago Blackhawks made a valiant comeback in Game 5 but fell short when Matt Beleskey scored in overtime for the Anaheim Ducks.

That goal at the 45-second mark of the first extra period gave the Ducks a 3-2 edge in the series. If they can record their second postseason victory at the United Center, they will advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2007.

The Blackhawks are not about to fade away just because they lost a tough game on the road. This is a strong, explosive and seasoned team that has been coming through in clutch situations since they won the 2010 Stanley Cup.

The Ducks have been using their size and strength to pound on the undermanned Chicago defense throughout the series. That has helped them get an edge, but the Blackhawks have not capitulated.

Look for Corey Crawford to have a strong game in the net, and look for the Blackhawks to have a relentless attack behind Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.

Prediction: Chicago 4,  Anaheim 3

Game 7: Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers, May 29

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Rangers may have dominated the Lightning in Game 6, but this series has had several back-and-forth swings, and there is no reason to believe that Tampa Bay will be at a disadvantage when these two teams meet Friday night.

The Lightning have the speed advantage with players like Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn. However, the Rangers blanketed Tampa Bay's speed with a hustling, hard-hitting attack in Game 6 that they will try to repeat in Game 7.

The Rangers appear to have an edge in goal, because Henrik Lundqvist is at his best when he gets a chance to perform in do-or-die situations. Lundqvist is 6-1 with a 0.97 goals-against average in Game 7s, and one of those victories came against Washington in the conference semifinal series this year.

Bishop is struggling, but he blanked the Rangers in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers have shown they can handle the pressure of Game 7, and they have one of the strongest goaltenders in the league.

"We battled all year for home ice," Brassard said after the game. "Our fans deserve that game."

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