Lightning 6, Rangers 2
NEW YORK -- Center Tyler Johnson recorded the first hat trick in franchise history as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Rangers 6-2 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
Johnson scored short-handed, on the power play and at even strength to help pull the Lightning into a 1-1 tie in the best-of-seven series that resumes in Tampa on Wednesday night.
The Lightning got two insurance goals from left winger Alex Killorn and one from right winger Steven Stamkos in the third period. Goaltender Ben Bishop earned the win by stopping 35 shots.
Center Derek Stepan and left winger Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who received 20 saves from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
Three goals were scored in a penalty-filled first period, and none occurred at even strength.
The Rangers had a 5-on-3 power play for a little more than a minute, but the Lightning turned their disadvantage into a 1-0 advantage when Johnson scored a shorthanded breakaway goal after a turnover by Rangers right winger Martin St. Louis.
The goal was reviewed, as St. Louis knocked the net off behind Lundqvist, but officials determined the puck crossed the line in a legal manner at 5:38.
Kreider responded about three minutes later with a power-play goal that pulled the Rangers into a 1-1 tie. Bishop stopped the initial point shot by defenseman Dan Boyle that was tipped by St. Louis, but Kreider swept the rebound home for his sixth goal of the playoffs.
Less than three minutes later, after a flurry of penalties, Johnson scored during a 4-on-3 advantage to make it 2-1. Johnson was left alone near the side of the net with an option to pass across the slot, but instead ripped a wrister over Lundqvist's catching glove.
Johnson completed his hat trick at 8:17 of the second period, when he scored off a scramble in the crease. Left winger Ondrej Palat hit the crossbar behind Lundqvist, and during the ensuing chaos, Johnson tapped home the puck from the crease.
The Rangers answered with a power-play goal six minutes later to make it 3-2. Stepan collected a loose puck behind the net after Bishop made two saves and banked a centering pass off Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
NOTES: The Lightning made two lineup changes for Game 2. C Brian Boyle, who missed Game 1 with an undisclosed injury, took the place of C Vladislav Namestnikov, and Nikita Nesterov served as a seventh defenseman, replacing RW Jonathan Marchessault. ... Lightning C/LW Jonathan Drouin was a healthy scratch. ... New York RW Mats Zuccarello, who has not played since Game 7 of the first round, skated on his own Monday. The Rangers have not disclosed his injury, but it is very likely a concussion. ... Rangers D Matt Hunwick was a healthy scratch. ... New York's record streak of 15 consecutive one-goal postseason games ended with the blowout loss.