Lightning, Rangers players brawl after Tampa Bay’s Game 5 victory

Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers players brawled at the end of their Game 5 Eastern Conference final matchup on Thursday night.

The Lightning capped off a 3-1 win with a Brandon Hagel empty-net goal. Once the final buzzer sounded, Lightning veteran Steven Stamkos and Rangers youngster Alexis Lafrenière were trading punches and took their fight down to the ice. Three other groups of players were also squaring off.

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Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fights with Alexis Lafrenière #13 of the New York Rangers at the end of the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

The skirmish lasted for about a minute or so before the players were sent off the ice and back into the locker rooms. 

The Lightning were going home happy, now up 3-2 in the best-of-7 series and the Rangers will have to dig deep and try to persevere to force a Game 7.

LIGHTNING SHOCK RANGERS IN GAME 5, INCH CLOSER TO ANOTHER STANLEY CUP APPEARANCE

Mikhail Sergachev played the hero for the Lightning in the game. The Tampa Bay defender scored the equalizer in the second period at the 17:34 mark in the game. In the third period, Sergachev would be credited with a goal through traffic to put the Lightning up 2-1.

Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fights with Alexis Lafrenière #13 of the New York Rangers at the end of the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Sergachev’s goals were the first two of the playoffs. He has eight playoff goals in his career.

The Rangers got on the board first thanks to an unassisted goal from Ryan Lindgren on an incredible angle, but it was all the scoring New York could muster on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Tampa Bay has an 8-2 record when leading 3-2 in a best-of-7 series.

Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 9, 2022 in New York City. (Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

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A win for the Lightning means they will face the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final. A win for the Rangers means Game 7 is back in New York City.