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Keith Yandle thrives in the chaos in Rangers vs. Lightning

Keith Yandle thrives in the chaos in Rangers vs. Lightning

Keith Yandle isn’t what you’d call a defensive stopper. There are times he doesn’t exactly play what you’d call “defense.”

But luckily, the New York Rangers’ Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning has produced 25 goals in the last three games, which means this is a decidedly more comfortable style for Keith Yandle than the one that had him looking out of place for the last several weeks.

“I think in this series I've felt probably at my best and most comfortable, and I kind of feel like it's coming together,” said Yandle on Saturday, ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday night.

“I think against a team like this we know everyone has to be a key part and a big part of our offense.  To get chances everyone has to be able to make them play. I think for me it's just using my legs and trying to get up in the play as much as possible.”

Yandle had a goal and two assists in the Rangers’ 5-1 rout in Game 4, to go along with two helpers in Game 3. He previously had two points in his last 11 games.

Two of this points in the last two games have come on the power play, which has scored on four of its last eight chances.

But Yandle’s also been better at even strength, despite the Lightning getting the last change and the matchups they want against Yandle’s pairing. He was a plus-8.68 corsi relative in Game 3 at 5-on-5 and a plus-14.03 in Game 4.

“It's the best I've seen him play so far with the puck. How to beat the forecheck, when to jump up in the attack. It's the best  I've seen him play with that so far. I've seen him play really good with Phoenix before. It takes players a little adjustment time He's playing really well.”

Question is: Has Yandle found his groove with the Rangers, or is his groove 25 combined goals scored in three games?

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