The New York Rangers opened best when the semifinal series moved to Florida and Tampa Bay’s home ground.
Mika Zibanejad scored his tenth playoff goal. As several times before, it happened in powerplay via a direct shot from the left technical circle.
Two minutes later, the 29-year-old center tried again in a new Rangers powerplay. But this time, Andrei Vasilevsky stood in the way of the Tampa goal. But Chris Kreider picked up the return and hit it, which meant that Zibanejad also got an assist point, his 14th in the playoffs, from the meeting.
The following two goals were also scored in numerical superiority, but this time belonging to the home team. Nikita Kutjerov reduced shortly after Kreider’s goal – assisted by Victor Hedman, while the equalizer came from Steven Stamkos at the beginning of the last period.
With 42 seconds left on the game clock, Ondrej Palat decided for Tampa Bay, after a great passing collaboration with Kutjerov and Hedman.
Rangers have a 2-1 lead in the semifinal series, which is decided in the best of seven matches.