The New York Rangers took a 2-0 lead on wins in the NHL playoff semifinals.
The Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 (2-1, 0-0, 1-1) again at home in the final of the Eastern Conference of the North American professional ice hockey league.
For the defending champion from Tampa Bay, it was the first time since April 2019 that there were two consecutive defeats in the playoffs. Tampa Bay had set an NHL record with 18 straight wins after a playoff loss.
After Tampa Bay’s opening goal, the Rangers had scored two goals in the first period, and Mika Zibanejad made it 3-1 for the hosts early in the final period. The Sweden international scored his 22nd point of the finals, putting him in third place behind Connor McDavid and German NHL pro Leon Draisaitl. The guests’ 2:3 goal two minutes before the end came too late.
(dpa)
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