The Tampa Bay Lightning strike down the New York Rangers in overtime

Nikita Kucherov scored for the Tampa Bay Lightning to secure an overtime victory against the New York Rangers in game three of the NHL's Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday.

In a rapid counter-attack in the fourth minute of the extra period, Kucherov picked out the top corner of Henrik Lundqvist's net from 27 feet as Tampa Bay claimed a 2-1 series lead with a 6-5 triumph.

The Lightning conceded the first two goals of the game before surging into a 4-2 lead late in the second period, and after the Rangers levelled in the third stanza, Tampa Bay edged ahead only to be reeled in again with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

But the Rangers had no answer to the home side in a frantic overtime period, with Kucherov clinching victory in the Lightning's first of two consecutive games at Amalie Arena.

The visitors struggled with Tampa Bay's top scoring line of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Kucherov, who have burst onto the scene in the play-offs.

The Lightning's youthful trio put on another display in game three, combining for four goals and three assists, plus 12 of Tampa Bay's 39 shots at Lundqvist.

Johnson, Palat and Kucherov have had 16 points in this series.

They have also scored 25 of the Lightning's 47 goals in the play-offs.

Johnson, with 12 goals and 19 points in 16 games, leads all play-off scorers in both categories.

Rangers rookie forward Jesper Fast notched a brace for the New York-based team, putting the visitors 2-0 up in the opening period and dragging them within one goal late in the second.

Palat matched that effort, scoring the leveller at 2-2 and handing the home side a 5-4 lead before Dan Boyle's late equaliser for the Rangers forced overtime.