In Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Rangers destroyed the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 with the 6-2 win. New York looks to jump out to the 2-0 series lead, while the Tampa Bay Lightning look to tie up this series.
New York Lines and Defencive Pairings
Tampa Bay Lines and Defencive Pairings
Game Recap
In the first period, lots of puck possession battles and the pleasantries are extended once more between New York’s Ryan Reaves and Tampa Bay’s Pat Maroon. Tampa Bay heads to the power play when Ryan Reaves heads off for a Slashin call at 2:31. The Lightning respond quick when Corey Perry scores his sixth goal of the postseason 10 seconds later to give the Bolts the 1-0 lead. The Rangers go on to tie the game 1-1 when K’Andre Miller nets his second goal of the postseason. After further review, the credit to the Tampa power play goal now reads Nikita Kucherov with his fifth of the postseason. New York heads to theior first power play of the night when Erik Cernak heads to the penalty box on a Roughing call at the 8:37 mark in the period. Tampa Bay gets their second penalty when Steven Stamkos is called for Slashing to put the Rangers right back at the man advantage at 12:09. The Rangers take the 2-1 lead when Kaapo Kakko scores his second of the postseason at 17:32
In the second period, pushing and shoving behind the net at results in a penalty being called for Roughing on the Lightning’s Cal Foote. This would be Tampa Bay’s third penalty of the night at 5:37. Overall this would be a faster paced period and with no goals scored, New York still leads this contest 2-1.
In the third period, the Rangers take the two goal lead when Mika Zibanejad nets his ninth of the postseason just 1:21 into the period. New York then heads to their fourth power play of the night when Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman is whistled for a Tripping call on Alexis Lafrenière at 13:55. With 2:04 left in the contest, Tampa Bay comes within a goal when Nicholas Paul scores his third of the postseason, however the comeback falls short as the Rangers escape with the 3-2 win and take the 2-0 series lead.
Period by Period Scoring and Penalty Summary
1st Period
NYR Penalty: Ryan Reaves for Slashing – 2 min minor – 02:31
TB PP Goal: Nikita Kucherov (5) – Assisted by Victor Hedman (9) and Anthony Cirelli (4) – 02:41
NYR Goal: K’Andre Miller (2) – Assisted by Frank Vatrano (7) and Chris Kreider (4) – 05:59
TB Penalty: Erik Cernak for Roughing – 2 min minor – 08:37
TB Penalty: Steven Stamkos for Slashing – 2 min minor – 12:09
NYR Goal: Kaapo Kakko (2) – Assisted by Adam Fox (16) and Filip Chytil (2) – 17:32
2nd Period
TB Penalty: Cal Foote for Roughing – 2 min minor – 05:37
3rd Period
NYR Goal: Mika Zibanejad (9) – Assisted by Frank Vatrano (9) and Chris Kreider (5) – 01:21
TB Penalty: Victor Hedman for Tripping – 2 min minor – 13:55
TB Goal: Nick Paul (3) – Assisted by Corey Perry (2) and Nikita Kucherov (12) – 17:58
Period by Period Statistical Summary
1st
| Tampa Bay – 1 | New York – 2 | |
| Faceoffs | 10 | 13 |
| Power Play | 1/1 | 0/2 |
| Shots | 07 | 08 |
| Hits | 12 | 09 |
2nd
| Tampa Bay – 1 | New York – 2 | |
| Faceoffs | 18 | 17 |
| Power Play | 1/1 | 0/3 |
| Shots | 17 | 22 |
| Hits | 24 | 14 |
3rd
| Tampa Bay – 2 | New York – 3 | |
| Faceoffs | 28 | 20 |
| Power Play | 1/1 | 0/4 |
| Shots | 31 | 28 |
| Hits | 32 | 23 |
Next Game: Game 3 – Sunday, June 5th at Tampa Bay, 3pm EDT
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