Chytil scores twice in the game as New York routs Tampa Bay for a club record 7th consecutive home playoff victory
Filip Chytil has found his scoring acess and is aiding the New York Rangers get on quite the roll.
Chytil scored two goals in the second period and the Rangers beat the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning by 6-2 on Wednesday night in Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals.
Following scoring eight goals over this season's season opener, the center scored seven goals in his 15 playoff games. That includes 5 goals over the final three games.
"I was working hard for the whole season," Chytil declared. "There were some tough times and many chances, but I was unable to put it into the net. ... If you're not getting pucks in the net, you're not helping your team in any way and may get angry. Now that it's going in, I am content to help the team by winning games."
Mika Zibanejad Artemi Panarin, and Frank Vatrano each scored one goal and an assist, Chris Kreider also scored and Alexis Lafreniere and Adam Fox each contributed two assists, helping New York win its franchise-record seventh consecutive match at home in the playoffs. Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 shots and improved to 8-3 in the past 11 games.
The Rangers have scored 17 goals in their last three games , after scoring nine in the previous five games.
"There was a lot of sharpness," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "Obviously, (the Lightning) were a little tired tonight, but they were the same after having nine days off. ... We're in good shape, our game is great, we're playing well and doing what we should be doing right now. It's just a matter of continuing to play like that."
Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist. Ondrej Palat scored as well in the win for Tampa Bay, which had been winning six straight games in its first game since finishing its second round defeat of Florida on the 23rd of May. Andrei Vasilevskiy, who gave just three goals over five games against Panthers and recorded 28 saves.
"You've to be able to give them credit. They're an excellent hockey group," Stamkos said. "We certainly weren't at the best of us. We know that we need to improve on. Have been there before. I'm sure we'll perform better in the next game. This is Game 1 of a lengthy series."
Game 2 is on Friday evening in Madison Square Garden.
The score was after 20 minutes and 1-1 before the Rangers gained control in the second half.
Vatrano provided the Rangers an advantage of 2-1 in the second quarter at 7:50 when he smashed his shot from the left side through Vasilevskiy to the blocker side to score his fourth goal of the postseason.
Palat scored at 8:32 after backhanding his rebound from a hit made by Stamkos over Shesterkin to earn his fifth win of the playoffs.
The Rangers took the lead back one minute minutes later. Kaapo Kakko carried his puck in from the Lightning net to the right of the goalie and then sent a puck to Chytil in the slot, who shot through Vasilevskiy. It was the third consecutive game that Chytil has scored.
Chytil was able to make it 4-2 at 4:17 after he received an inter-ice ball from K'Andre' Miller. He then fired an untimely shot past Vasilevskiy to score his seventh goal of the playoffs -- and his fifth goal in three games.
Panarin received a cross-ice feed to Andrew Copp in the left circle during a 2-on-1. He put it through Vasilevskiy and gave the Rangers an advantage of three goals thirty minutes into third. It was his fifth goal of the playoffs.
Just two minutes after that, Shesterkin made two big saves in the Lightning power play. She was in the ice for several minutes after being struck on head with Stamkos following his second stop.
Zibanejad was able to make it 6-2 at 6:06 with an prolonged period in the zone of attack during the power play, hitting an untimed shot from left side after receiving a pass by Panarin to secure his eighth playoff goal of the season. This provided the Rangers a goal using the advantage of the man for the sixth time in a row that tied the franchise record for playoffs that was previously set in 1986 and in 1990.
"You just try to be ready for any pass," Zibanejad told reporters. "It was successful today, so it's a good thing. The most important thing is that it was able to go in."
The majority of attention on this game centered on the goalies, Madison Square Garden crowd began with chants of "I-gor's bet-ter! I-gor's bet!" midway through the third period.
"They played a good game," Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said. "They are playing well. We knew to see that ... You don't ever want to lose two times in two games in a row. Rebounding from defeat will be massive."
The heat erupted with just two minutes left as a number of fights broke out in one corner. Ten players were penalized -- two of them on Barclay Goodrow, the Rangers' Barclay Goodrow -and make Tampa Bay on a power play to win the game.
Kreider scored to get the Rangers in the scoring column first 1:01 into the game with the first shot of the game goal. He scored on the cross-ice play of Zibanejad during a 2-on-1 on the inside of the circle to left. It was his ninth goal of the playoffs.
Stamkos made it 7:19 after he smacked an slap shot from the high slot right under the crossbar to earn his fifth playoff win.
Zibanejad extended his point streak to six games, scoring 5 goals, and 5 assists over the final stretch. ... The Rangers recorded six points in consecutive playoff matches to mark the first occasion since winning the Cup during their run in 1994.
Kreider has scored 51 points in the postseason which is tied with Walt Tkaczuk for the fifth position among New York franchise history. His 33rd goal in the postseason moved him one point behind Rod Gilbert for the most in franchise history.