Rangers beat Lightning in Game 2, lead Eastern Conference Finals 2-0
NEW YORK -- Mika Zibanejad scored in the third period, Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots and the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Friday night to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
K'Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko scored in the first period, and Adam Fox and Chris Kreider each had two assists for the Rangers. New York won its eighth straight home game, extending a franchise playoff record.
Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay, Nicholas Paul also scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves. The Lightning goalie has allowed nine goals in two games against the Rangers after limiting Florida to three in a four-game sweep in the second round.
The Lightning have lost consecutive playoff games for the first time in the last three postseasons. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions were 17-0 after a loss coming in.
The series shifts to Tampa for Game 3 on Sunday and Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Zibanejad extended the Rangers' lead to 3-1 early in the third period. Shortly after missing wide on a 2-on-1, he got a pass from Fox, skated into the left circle and fired a shot that beat Vasilevskiy high on the stick side at 1:21. It was Zibanejad's ninth of the playoffs and gave him goals in six of the last seven games.
With Vasilevskiy pulled for an extra skater, Paul scored in front off a pass from Corey Perry to pull the Lightning within one with 2:04 left.
Vasiliveskiy was pulled again for an extra skater when Shesterkin had to make several sprawling saves with about a minute to go.
With the Rangers leading 2-1 after 20 minutes, Tyler Motte nearly added to it 3 1/2 minutes into the second period as his backhander trickled through Vasilevskiy's pads and was on the goal line when Corey Perry dove across to keep it out.
The Rangers outshot the Lightning 14-10 in the scoreless middle period, with most of Tampa Bay's attempts coming in the last six minutes. Shesterkin stopped a shot by Paul from the right doorstep, an attempt in close seconds later by Ross Colton, and then a deflection by Anthony Cirelli less than another minute later. The goalie also stopped two slap shots by Mikhail Sergachev about 20 seconds apart with about a minute to go.
The Lightning got an early power play when the Rangers' Ryan Reaves was whistled for slashing 2 1/2 minutes into the game. They quickly took advantage as Kucherov fired a shot from the right circle that beat Shesterkin on the glove side at 2:41. It was Kucherov's fifth of the postseason. Tampa Bay was 0 for 9 on the power play in its previous three games.
Miller tied it a little more than the minutes later on a Rangers rush. He fired a shot from the right point that was blocked by Lightning defenseman Brandon Hagel, but the puck came back to him and he fired another shot that went in off the post at 5:59.
Shesterkin had a sprawling skate save on Stamkos two minutes later on a 2-on-1 to keep it tied. Motte nearly gave the Rangers the lead with 8 1/2 minutes remaining, but his shot deflected off the goalpost.
Kakko put the Rangers ahead 2-1 as he deflected a pass from Adam Fox past Vasilevskiy from the right doorstep with 2:28 left in the opening period.
STATS
Fox leads all NHL defensemen with 17 assists and 22 points in the postseason. ... Zibanejad has a seven-game point streak with six goals and 11 points. He has 22 points in the postseason. ... The Rangers have 20 goals over their last four games after scoring nine over the previous five.
CLIMBING LISTS
Kreider has 53 postseason points, taking over sole possession of fifth place in franchise history.
Rangers fans want the Cup after thrilling Game 2 win
Rangers fans left Madison Square Garden chanting "We want the Cup" Friday night after their Game 2 win.
As CBS2's Steve Overmyer reports, this is a team that was thought to be underestimated, didn't quite have the experience heading into the playoffs, but every win, these kids are becoming veterans.
Right now, with a 2-0 lead on the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, this team can't be underestimated anymore.
"Oh my god, unbelievable," one fan said. "The kids are bringing such energy to the team. The kids. The kids are. And Igor is the man, best goalie in the league."
"So loud that you can't even talk to each other," another fan said. "The best feeling you could ever have being a Ranger fan for 40 years."
"One word to say. Well, two words -- champions and Igor," another fan said.
The Rangers are now halfway to the series win, but both of these two wins were at home and we know what happens sometimes on the road.
Game 3 will be Sunday in Tampa.
Fans say energy is electric at Game 2 watch party
The Rangers have hit the ice at Madison Square Garden, looking for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, and watch parties are underway.
CBS2's Steve Overmyer was at Mustang Harry's, two blocks away from the Garden. It's the home for the Rangers Fan Club, and it's where everybody who couldn't get tickets to the game found themselves.
The Rangers gave up an early goal to the Lightning, but moments later, they got it back. Overmyer says when K'Andre Miller buried a goal, the bar exploded.
"I mean, it's always rough when the other team draws first blood, but New York, you know, no quit in New York. We're gonna come back. We're gonna win. K'Andre Miller with a great first goal. We're gonna secure a big win tonight. Rangers in six," one fan said.
"They're doing absolutely amazing and they just have to keep it up and we have to win the cup this year," another fan said.
"I'm feeling great, man. There's no quit. All the team's, like, electric ... Everything's just great right now. We're playing a good team, and we're finally looking like the '94 team," another fan said.
"All I got to say is electricity, that's what I see tonight. These guys don't quit. That's what they got. No quit in New York," another fan said.
Teams that go up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup playoffs win the series 86 percent of the time. If the Rangers can pull off a victory Friday night, that puts them one step closer to the Stanley Cup Final.
Rangers fans riding high
Rangers fans are riding high during this playoff run. In fact, all of New York is behind this team, CBS2's Steve Overmyer reported.
We've been longing for a championship in any sport for 10 years. The last time we celebrated a title was for the Giants in 2012. But this is starting to feel like the Rangers are a team destined for the cup.
They were supposed to be in a rebuild. They weren't supposed to be able to handle teams with more experience. Even though they're young, they've proven this Stanley Cup run has made them veterans.
Mustang Harry's is the headquarters for any Rangers fan. It's just down the street from the Garden and, even four hours before game time, the crowd is ready for this team to make its mark.
Rangers set the tone in Game 1
The Garden was shaking during Game 1 when the Blueshirts dominated the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions 6-2. The Rangers have won a franchise-record seven straight playoff games at MSG.
"The fans have been incredible and every game it's even louder and noisier. Our fans have been outstanding for us. Our guys are real comfortable playing in this building. We played real good hockey in this building all season long, and we just keep striving. The bigger the game gets, the bigger the team gets," Rangers Head Coach Gerard Gallant said.
Don't be fooled. Despite the lopsided score, the Rangers need to be aware of this experienced Lightning squad. Tampa Bay has won their last 17 playoff games following a loss. They're experts at fighting back.
"It's an impressive stat. That's what you need to do to have good runs in the playoffs, is not multiple losses. And they've done that for a long time now. But knowing that stat, knowing that they're gonna come out ready to go, we have to bring our A-game," Justin Braun said.
"Doesn't matter to me. It really doesn't. They didn't beat us 17 times, they beat other teams. So we just gotta get ready to play out game and go play," Gallant said.
This is also a position the Rangers aren't used to during this playoff run. They're actually leading a series for the first time after they trailed 3-1 in Round 1 and 2-0 and 3-2 in Round 2.
"It's different playing with the lead but, it's our first lead. It's good to have it. I try to keep playing the same way, and keep playing like we played in Game 1," Alexis Lafrenière said.
"You gotta have the same mindset. Backs against the wall, up, down. Every game is important. You gotta come out with same mindset that this is the night you need to get it done," Braun said.