Rangers Take Opener In Eastern Conference Finals

NEW YORK (AP) – 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 Lafreniere 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.  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.  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.