Rangers end Lightning streak, take 2-0 series lead

NEW YORK (AP) — After winning the series opener with an offensive display, the New York Rangers used a strong defensive effort to take Game 2. Now they are two victories away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in eight years.

Mika Zibanejad scored in the third period, Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots and the Rangers held on to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Friday night in the Eastern Conference finals.

“It's a huge win for us, but we just get ready for the next one," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "They way we played the last two games, that's the way we're going to have to play to win the series. We want to battle hard, we want to compete hard and we've been a tough out so far.”

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.

“We did a great job limiting them, especially in the first two periods,” Fox said. “We didn't make too many mistakes. ... When we needed those big saves, we got them at the end as usual.”

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.

“We haven’t executed the proper way that got us here,” Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. “They are a skilled team and make you pay. We found some momentum at the end. We have to carry that over.”

The Lightning lost consecutive playoff games for the first time in the last three postseasons. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, winners of 10