Even finding themselves in a tie game late in regulation took a gut check from Tampa Bay, as they were forced to rally from a two-goal deficit after Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider both scored power play goals midway through the second period.
Tampa Bay rode its own power play firepower to level the score, getting goals from Kucherov and Steven Stamkos to set the stage for Palat's thrilling game-winner.
The victory gets the Bolts on the board in the Eastern Conference Final, but the Rangers still lead 2-1 with Game 4 right back at AMALIE Arena on Tuesday night.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
No Scoring
2nd Period
NYR 1, TBL 0
7:37 Mika Zibanejad (10) - Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin - PPG
A theatric fall to the ice and toss of the stick by Igor Shesterkin, because of contact with Corey Perry, sent the Rangers to the power play and they used the man advantage to strike first in Game 3. Adam Fox teed up Mika Zibanejad for a one-timer from above the left circle that got past Andrei Vasilevskiy.
NYR 2, TBL 0
9:44 Chris Kreider (10) - Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad - PPG
While trying to reach for a Nikita Kucherov centering feed on an odd man rush, Riley Nash ended up toppling into Shesterkin and put the Rangers right back on the power play. This time Zibanejad's initial shot was stopped by Vasilevskiy, but Chris Kreider was on-hand in front of the net to put home the rebound and double New York's lead.
NYR 2, TBL 1
10:50 Nikita Kucherov (6) - Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos - PPG
The third power play goal in a 3:13 span ended up in the back of the Rangers' net and got Tampa Bay on the board. Nikita Kucherov let loose a one-timer from the right face-off dot that found an opening through Shesterkin's five-hole.
3rd Period
NYR 2, TBL 2
1:22 Steven Stamkos (6) - Corey Perry, Nikita Kucherov - PPG
The Lightning delivered the start they needed in the third, leveling the game at two on a Steven Stamkos power play one-timer. From along the near wall, Perry dished back to a trailing Stamkos, and he blasted the equalizer past Shesterkin.
TBL 3, NYR 2
19:18 Ondrej Palat (6) - Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman
Once again, there was last minute magic for the Bolts. From the left point, Victor Hedman fed Kucherov in the slot. Turned away from the net, Kucherov sent a backhand pass to Ondrej Palat on the right wing and his shot slipped by Shesterkin at the near post for the game-winning tally.
