Chytil scores twice, Rangers rout Lightning in Game 1
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NEW YORK — Filip Chytil scored twice in the second period and the New York Rangers routed the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and an assist, Chris Kreider also scored and Alexis Lafrenière and Adam Fox each had two assists to help New York win its franchise-record seventh straight home playoff game. Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 shots to improve to 8-3 in the last 11 games.
Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and Ondrej Palat also scored for Tampa Bay, which had won six straight and was playing for the first time since completing its second-round sweep of Florida on May 23. Andrei Vasilevskiy, who gave up just three goals in four games against the Panthers, had 28 saves.
Game 2 is Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The score was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes before the Rangers took control in the second period. They scored three times while outshooting the Lightning 17-10.
Vatrano gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 7:50 of the second as he pounced on a loose puck near the left circle and fired a shot past Vasilevskiy high on the blocker side for his fourth of the postseason.
Just 25 seconds later, Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman fired a shot off the goalpost, and seconds later the Rangers brought the puck the other way and Vasilevskiy made a sliding save to deny Ryan Strome.
Palat tied it at 8:32, backhanding the rebound of a shot by Stamkos past Shesterkin for his fifth of the playoffs.
The Rangers regained the lead 1:19 later. Kaapo Kakko had the puck behind the Lightning net, came out to the goalie's right and sent a pass to Chytil in slot that he fired it past Vasilevskiy. It marked the third straight game Chytil scored.
Chytil made it 4-2 with 4:17 left after the Rangers had extended possession in the offensive zone. He got a cross-ice pass from K'Andre Miller and fired a one-timer past Vasilevskiy for his seventh of the postseason — and fifth in three games.
Panarin got a cross-ice pass from Andrew Copp in the left circle on a 2-on-1 and fired it past Vasilevskiy to give the Rangers a three-goal lead 30 seconds into the third. It was his fifth of the playoffs.
Less than two minutes later, Shesterkin made two big saves during a Lightning power play, stopping a slap shot by Nikita Kucherov and and a follow by Corey Perry. He was then down on the ice for several minutes after getting hit in the head by Stamkos after the second save.
Zibanejad made it 6-2 at 6:06 after extended time in the offensive zone on a power play, firing a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Panarin for his eighth of the playoffs. It gave the Rangers a goal with the man advantage for the sixth straight game, tying a franchise playoff record, previously accomplished in 1986 and 1990.
With much of the focus coming into this series centered on the goalies, the Madison Square Garden crowd began chants of "I-gor's bet-ter! I-gor's bet-ter!" midway through the third period.
Tempers flared with less than two minutes remaining as several skirmishes broke out in one corner. Ten players received penalties — including two on the Rangers' Barclay Goodrow — to put Tampa Bay on a power play to finish the game.
Kreider got the Rangers on the scoreboard first 1:11 into the game on the game's first shot on goal. Zibanejad got a long lead pass from Vatrano up the right side on a 2-on-1, sent a pass across to Kreider, who fired it past Vasilevskiy from the inside edge of the left circle for his ninth goal of the postseason.
Shesterkin then stopped a slap shot by Jan Rutta at 2:09 on the Lightning's first shot.
Stamkos tied it at 7:19 as he got a pass from Rutta in the high slot and fired a slap shot past Shesterkin just under the crossbar for his fifth of the playoffs.
Shesterkin denied two tries in close by Stamkos with about 4 minutes remaining in the first to keep the score tied.
STATS
Zibanejad extended his points streak to six games with five goals and five assists in the stretch. ... The Rangers are 7-3 when scoring first this postseason, and 6-1 when leading after two periods. ... Tampa Bay is 1-3 when giving up the first goal, and 1-3 when trailing after two periods. ... The Rangers have scored six goals in consecutive playoff games for the first time since their Cup-winning run in 1994.
CLIMBING LISTS
Kreider has 51 postseason points, tying Walt Tkaczuk for the fifth place in New York franchise history. His 33rd postseason goal moved one behind Rod Gilbert for the most in franchise history.
Game 1 win has Rangers fans pumped up
The New York Rangers are now one step closer to the Stanley Cup finals. The team took Game 1 against Tampa on Wednesday, and as CBS2's Kevin Rincon reports, fans are pumped up, to say the least.
There was plenty of excitement after a thrilling 6-2 win at the Garden in Game 1.
"Amazing. We came off a high from the other round into this round. Tampa was sleeping," one fan said.
"They came out exactly the way they should've because they rested, we did not, we're still rolling," another fan said.
"It was a great experience. I think I really want to go to another one," said one young fan.
"It was amazing. It's baby's second game and they won again, wonderfully, so we're super pumped. Spontaneous night, so we're really looking forward to the next few games, so it was really great," one pregnant fan said.
"Are you kidding me? We're coming for the cup," one man said.
The last time these two teams met up, it took seven games to decide it. Many Rangers fans on Wednesday night were feeling optimistic and don't think it will take seven this time.
Rangers fans confident team will continue its winning ways
The signs were everywhere -- "there's no quit in New York."
After facing elimination over and over again, the Rangers are that much closer to the Stanley Cup.
"I think we're going to be surprising a lot of people here," fan Tommy Fox said.
"It's not a rebuild anymore when you're in the Eastern Conference Finals. We're here to stay," fan Eddie Miller said.
For many at Mustang Harry's on 30th, watching a hockey game isn't just about hockey.
"I love it. I love the community. I love that it all brings everyone together. You feel united. It feels good. It's nice to see everyone," Elizabeth Plezia said.
For people like Kevin Anderson, a native New Yorker, it's an opportunity to show what the city is all about.
"It shows what New York's all about. It shows that we are the best, we're the toughest and we don't put up with any crap," he said.
For the owner of Mustang Harry's, it's a chance to showcase the business community's resilience.
"This is huge for us and many businesses in the surrounding area," Ian Conroy said.
Countdown to puck drop continues at Madison Square Garden
Rangers fans are rallying around their team as they gear up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The countdown to the puck drop continued at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday evening.
As CBS2's Kevin Rincon reports, some fans spent time inside the Fan Zone, talking with former players, taking photos and shooting some pucks. They were pumped to be there, making it this far, given they've had to come back to advance in both series. It's a team that's refused to quit.
"This team just has a knack for coming back from adversity," fan Amy Herman said.
"They don't give up. They come in, they play for each other, they play for the team. Can't ask for anything else," fan Jacob Sturm said.
"Blocking shots, sacrificing their body, going to the net, everything you see, anything you can do to win," former Ranger Mike Hartman said.
The Rangers and the Lightning met seven years ago in the Eastern Conference Finals. That series went to Game 7, and with the way things have been going, it wouldn't be a surprise if it happened again.
Rangers' success has fans eagerly anticipating Game 1
The success on the ice for the Rangers has fans beaming.
Most will tell you they never thought they'd make it this far.
From thrilling back-to-back Game 7s to Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, the team has relied on their resilience, refusing to quit even when the odds are stacked against them.
"When you think they're down and out, they're able to come back and make things interesting," said Bob Edwards, a fan from Pennsylvania.
"The expectations weren't to go this far, and here they are," said Marco, another fan from Pennsylvania.
"In the beginning of the year, I just wanted this team to be fun to watch, and they've been a lot more than fun to watch. They've been consistent. They've been exciting," former Ranger Brian Mullen said.
Crowds headed not just to Madison Square Garden, but to Central Park for a viewing party Monday night. The energy and excitement there will be felt for sure inside MSG.
Rangers face stiffest challenge so far as they take on Lightning
In order to be the best, you gotta beat the best.
The Rangers will try to do that when they start the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night against the two-time defending champion Lightning.
This will be their stiffest challenge thus far, but after winning two Game 7s this post-season, the Blueshirts have to have a lot of confidence going in.
Even though they're only halfway there, Rangers fans are already dreaming of the Stanley Cup that has eluded them since 1994. So what better way to get one step closer than take down the team that has hoisted Lord Stanley the last two years?
Tampa Bay has the obvious edge in experience over the youthful Rangers, but the Blueshirts have one player that won two cups as well. Center Barclay Goodrow was with the Lightning the previous two seasons and knows what it takes to get to the top of the mountain.
"You learn from your experience. We've learned a lot from the first two rounds," Goodrow said. "The young guys look great. The pressure, the moment isn't affecting their play, which is a big testament to their maturity and their will to win. It's been great to be a part of, and I think we're a lot more experienced now than we were a month ago. We're gonna use that and bring our game to the next level."
The Rangers have some Stanley Cup experience in the front office as well. First-year general manager Chris Drury won a cup as a player with the Colorado Avalanche back in 2001, so what advice does the GM have for his team as they look to get one step closer?
"Just be ready, enjoy it and have fun. Don't get too high or too low, and enjoy the moment," Drury said.
"Play one game at a time. Take it one game at a time. We've had five elimination games so far, and the guys just go into those games playing the same way. They compete hard. They battle hard, and they wanna keep going," Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said.
The puck will drop for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at 8 p.m.