NEW YORK (AP) — Filip Chytil (FIH-lihp HEE’-tul) 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 (MEE’-kah zih-BAN’-ih-jad) , Artemi Panarin (ahr-TEH’-mee pah-NAH’-rihn) and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and an assist, Chris Kreider also scored and Alexis Lafrenière (ah-LEHK’-see lah-frehn-YEHR’) and Adam Fox each had two assists to help New York win its franchise-record seventh straight home playoff game. Igor Shesterkin (shehs-TUR’-kihn) stopped 37 shots.
Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and Ondrej Palat (AHN’-dray pah-LAHT’) 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.
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.
Game 2 is Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Photo: The New York Rangers celebrate after Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in New York. The Rangers won 6-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)