New York – The New York Rangers started the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals by beating the reigning champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 6-2 was the seventh consecutive home playoff win for Rangers, who were never behind in the game and provided the preliminary decision with three goals in the second period. The Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup in the North American ice hockey league in 2020 and 2021, had not played a game since May 23 after the last six wins in a row. The six goals conceded more than the three total in the previous playoff series against the Florida Panthers.
The second game against Rangers is on June 3 (local time). A team needs four wins to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the final series it’s either against the Colorado Avalanche for Nico Sturm from Augsburg or the Edmonton Oilers for the German NHL star Leon Draisaitl. The Avalanche won the first game in the Western Conference and are leading 1-0.
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