NEW YORK (AP) – Philip Chittle scored twice in the second period and the New York Rangers defeated two-time Stanley Cup defender Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Mika Zibanedjad, Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano had goals and assists, Chris Crider also scored, and Alexis Lafreniere and Adam Fox had two assists each to help New York win their seventh consecutive home game in the playoffs. Igor Shesterkin has stopped 37 shots to improve to 8-3 in the last 11 games.
Stephen Stamkos scored a goal and an assist, and Ondrey Palace also scored for Tampa Bay, who won six straight victories and played for the first time since the second round of Florida on May 23. Andrei Vassilevski, who has conceded just three goals in four games against the Panthers, has 28 saves.
Game 2 is Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The score was 1-1 20 minutes before the Rangers took control in the second period. They scored three times, beating Lightning 17-10.
Vatrano gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 7:50 a second when he pounced on a loose puck near the left lap and struck past Vasilevski high on the blocker’s side for his fourth post-season.
Just 25 seconds later, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman fired from the crossbar, and seconds later Rangers brought the puck in the other direction and Vassilevsky made a sliding save to deny Ryan Straw.
Palat equalized at 8:32, as the backhand bounced off Stamkos’ shot past Shesterkin for his fifth playoff spot.
The Rangers later regained 1:19. Kaapo Kako had the puck behind the Lightning net, went to the goalkeeper’s right and sent a pass to Chitil in the slot he shot past Vassilevski. This marked the third consecutive match that Chytil scored.
Chitil made it 4-2 at 4:17 after the Rangers extended their possession in the attack zone. He received a pass from K’Andre Miller and shot once past Vasilevski for his seventh postseason – and fifth in three games.
Panarin received a pass from Andrew Kopp in the left circle at 2-on-1 and shot it past Vasilevski to give the Rangers a three-goal lead 30 seconds after the third. This was his fifth of the playoffs.
Less than two minutes later, Shesterkin made two big saves during a game of Lightning power, stopping a shot by Nikita Kucherov and a subsequent shot by Corey Perry. He was then on the ice for a few minutes after being hit in the head by Stamkos after the second rescue.
Zibanedjad made it 6-2 at 6:06 after a long time in the offensive zone in a powerful game, shooting once from the left circle of Panarin’s pass for his eighth playoff. This gave the Rangers a goal with a male advantage for the sixth consecutive game, equaling the record for the playoffs of the franchise, previously achieved in 1986 and 1990.
As much of the focus in this series focused on goalkeepers, the audience at Madison Square Garden began chanting “I-gor’s beter! I’m better! ” in the middle of the third period.
Sentiment flared in less than two minutes when several skirmishes broke out in one corner. Six players received penalties, putting Tampa Bay in a powerful game to end the match.
Crider put the Rangers on the scoreboard first with 1:11 in the match on the first shot on goal in the match. Zibanedjad received a long pass from Vatrano on the right in a 2-on-1, sent a pass to Kreider, who shot past Vasilevski from the inside of the left circle for his ninth goal of the postseason.
Shesterkin then stopped Jan Ruth’s slap at 2:09 in the first lightning strike.
Stamkos equalized at 7:19 after receiving a pass from Ruth in the high slot and shooting past Shesterkin just below the crossbar for his heel of the playoffs.
Shesterkin rejected two attempts at close range by Stamkos, leaving about 4 minutes until the first to keep the score equal.
STATISTICS
Zibanedjad extended his streak from points to six games with five goals and five assists. … Rangers are 7-3 when they score their first goal this postseason, and 6-1 when they lead after two periods. … Tampa Bay is 1-3 when the first goal is scored and 1-3 when they are behind after two periods. … Rangers have scored six goals in consecutive playoff games for the first time since winning their 1994 Cup.
CLIMBING LISTS
Crider has 51 points after the season, equaling Walt Tkachuk for fifth place in the history of the franchise in New York. His 33rd goal of the season moved one after Rod Gilbert for the most in franchise history.
___
Follow Vin Ceru on
___
More AP NHL: and
Add Comment