Lightning 4, Rangers 3
Ryan Callahan recorded a pair of goals and added an assist as Tampa Bay edged visiting New York to spoil the return of former Lightning captain Martin St. Louis.
Callahan, acquired from the Rangers last March after St. Louis requested a trade to New York, has scored four times in the first two games against his former team. Captain Steven Stamkos recorded a goal and two assists, Nikita Kucherov added a tally and Ben Bishop turned aside 16 shots to remain unbeaten against New York (7-0-0) in his career.
Rick Nash notched a goal and an assist while former Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle and Mats Zuccarello also scored for the Rangers, who have lost four of their last five against Tampa Bay. Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves and St. Louis was held without a shot in his first game back in Tampa.
Stamkos circled the net and fed the puck to Callahan, who chipped it past Lundqvist from the doorstep 10:17 into the second period to give the Lightning a 3-2 lead. Defenseman Matt Carle’s shot was deflected by Tyler Johnson and the puck went in off Kucherov’s skate 9:38 into the third to expand the advantage before Nash closed the gap with shot through a crowd in the slot with 7:11 left.
Stamkos hammered a shot over Lundqvist’s left shoulder during a power play 5:25 into the game, but Nash stole the puck from Tampa Bay blue-liner Andrej Sustr and set up Zuccarello 3:35 later. Boyle converted a pass from Derek Stepan while on the man advantage at 11:04 before Callahan answered with a power-play goal of his own, deflecting defenseman Jason Garrison’s shot past Lundqvist with 2:26 remaining in the first.
GAME NOTEBOOK: St. Louis was booed at the start of a video tribute in the first period before receiving a standing ovation by the time it ended, and he skated out to acknowledge the crowd. … Nash received a double-minor for delivering a cross-check to the face of Lightning LW Ondrej Palat in the first period, leading to Callahan’s goal. … Tampa Bay LW Alex Killorn assisted on Callahan’s second goal to extend his point streak to six games.