Rangers beat Lightning in Game 2, lead Eastern Conference Finals 2-0

NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad scored in the third time period, Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 photographs and the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Friday night time to acquire a 2- collection guide in the Jap Meeting finals.

K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko scored in the to start with time period, and Adam Fox and Chris Kreider just about every experienced two helps for the Rangers. New York received its eighth straight household match, extending a franchise playoff document.

Nikita Kucherov had a purpose and an guide for Tampa Bay, Nicholas Paul also scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy created 25 saves. The Lightning goalie has allowed 9 objectives in two online games towards the Rangers just after limiting Florida to a few in a 4-sport sweep in the 2nd spherical.

The Lightning have lost consecutive playoff game titles for the first time in the very last a few postseasons. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions have been 17- soon after a reduction coming in.

The sequence shifts to Tampa for Sport 3 on Sunday and Match 4 on Tuesday night time.

Zibanejad prolonged the Rangers’ guide to 3-1 early in the third time period. Shortly soon after lacking wide on a 2-on-1, he got a pass from Fox, skated into the left circle and fired a shot that defeat Vasilevskiy superior on the stick side at 1:21. It was Zibanejad’s ninth of the playoffs and gave him aims in six of the very last 7 online games.

With Vasilevskiy pulled for an additional skater, Paul scored in front off a pass from Corey Perry to pull the Lightning in 1 with 2:04 remaining.

Vasiliveskiy was pulled once more for an extra skater when Shesterkin had to make numerous sprawling will save with about a minute to go.

With the Rangers main 2-1 after 20 minutes, Tyler Motte just about included to it 3 1/2 minutes into the 2nd period of time as his backhander trickled as a result of Vasilevskiy’s pads and was on the goal line when Corey Perry dove throughout to keep it out.

The Rangers outshot the Lightning 14-10 in the scoreless middle interval, with most of Tampa Bay’s makes an attempt coming in the last six minutes. Shesterkin stopped a shot by Paul from the proper doorstep, an try in near seconds later on by Ross Colton, and then a deflection by Anthony Cirelli a lot less than a different minute later. The goalie also stopped two slap pictures by Mikhail Sergachev about 20 seconds aside with about a minute to go.

The Lightning received an early electrical power play when the Rangers’ Ryan Reaves was whistled for slashing 2 1/2 minutes into the video game. They quickly took benefit as Kucherov fired a shot from the suitable circle that conquer Shesterkin on the glove aspect at 2:41. It was Kucherov’s fifth of the postseason. Tampa Bay was for 9 on the electrical power participate in in its past 3 video games.

Miller tied it a minor extra than the minutes later on a Rangers rush. He fired a shot from the correct place that was blocked by Lightning defenseman Brandon Hagel, but the puck arrived back again to him and he fired yet another shot that went in off the post at 5:59.

Shesterkin experienced a sprawling skate conserve on Stamkos two minutes later on on a 2-on-1 to retain it tied. Motte practically gave the Rangers the direct with 8 1/2 minutes remaining, but his shot deflected off the goalpost.

Kakko set the Rangers in advance 2-1 as he deflected a go from Adam Fox past Vasilevskiy from the correct doorstep with 2:28 left in the opening time period.

STATS

Fox potential customers all NHL defensemen with 17 assists and 22 factors in the postseason. … Zibanejad has a seven-match issue streak with 6 plans and 11 points. He has 22 points in the postseason. … The Rangers have 20 objectives over their last 4 video games soon after scoring nine around the former five.

CLIMBING LISTS

Kreider has 53 postseason factors, taking about sole possession of fifth place in franchise background.