New York Rangers center Tyler Motte, left, congratulates goaltender Igor Shesterkin on defeating Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

Rangers hang on for 3-2 win over Lightning in Game 2 of ECF

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 6/3/22

The New York Rangers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Final, holding on for a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 on Friday.

TWO DOWN. pic.twitter.com/muwA91ELZq
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 4, 2022

Despite being outshot for the second-straight game of the series, Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin led the way, making 29 saves in the victory.

K'Andre Miller, Kaapo Kakko, and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers.

Chris Kreider and Adam Fox tallied two assists apiece. Fox leads the Rangers in points during the playoffs with 22.

Nikita Kucherov scored 2:41 into the first period to help the Lightning strike first on Friday night. However, the lead would be short-lived as Miller tallied the equalizer three minutes later. Kakko scored late in the period to give the Rangers a 2-1 advantage at the break.

After a scoreless second period, Zibanejad gave New York some breathing room early in the third, scoring at 1:21 to put the Rangers up 3-1.

Or should we say…

Zibanejune pic.twitter.com/1a5YxeqFH1
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 4, 2022

Tampa Bay showed signs of life late after Nick Paul scored with two minutes left in the game. The Lightning pulled goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy but couldn't find the tying goal.

Vasilevskiy struggled again in net for the Lightning, making 25 saves off 28 Rangers' shots. The 2021 Conn Smythe winner has allowed nine goals with a .855 SV% through two games of the Eastern Conference Final.

The Rangers will look to go up 3-0 as the Eastern Conference Final shifts to Tampa Bay for Game 3 Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

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