Mika Zibanejad scored a short-handed goal, then the power-play tiebreaker early in the third period, as the New York Rangers opened the season with a 3-1 home victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.
The Rangers failed on their first three power-play opportunities; but, off a faceoff in a 1-1 contest, the puck made its way to Zibanejad inside the near circle for a one-timer past Tampa Bay netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy (36 saves) 5:11 into the final period.
Zibanejad opened the scoring with his second-period goal and Barclay Goodrow added a deflected insurance tally with nine minutes left in regulation to help the Rangers exact some revenge on Tampa Bay, which eliminated them in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves for New York, which has won four straight regular-season contests over the Lightning. While Vasilevskiy was stout for most of the night, Tampa Bay’s offense managed just 27 shots and only Steven Stamkos’ second-period goal.
The Lightning earned a power play in the second period, but they appeared to get caught on a line change, allowing Zibanejad to grab a stretch pass from Jacob Trouba by the near board. He then skated in alone and flipped a backhander by Vasilevskiy just 3:25 into the middle frame.
However, with a five-on-three advantage, Stamkos evened the contest for Tampa Bay off a one-timer from the short slot with 10:51 remaining in the second. Moments later, Vasilevskiy stopped Artemi Panarin’s breakaway attempt following a turnover from the Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Shesterkin was sharp out of the gate. Less than a minute into the game, he saved Stamkos’ tip-in attempt. Then with 12:15 left in the contest, Shesterkin stopped a wrister from the streaking Stamkos.
Meanwhile, Vasilevskiy was equally up to the task by stopping all 14 shots he faced through the opening 20 minutes.
Rangers winger Vitali Kravtsov went to the locker room early in the first period after taking a hard hit from Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman.
–Field Level Media
