In Game One of the Eastern Conference Final, however, they struggled in all of those categories. The Rangers scored two goals off odd-man rushes and three others after the Lightning turned the puck over in the defensive zone, allowing the Rangers to regain possession and eventually score. The sixth and final goal came on a New York power play, on which the Lightning won a defensive zone face-off, but couldn't corral the puck to execute a clear.
Even though the Lightning allowed a goal on New York's first shot of the game - a two-on-one rush for Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider - the opening period was Tampa Bay's strongest of the night. The Lightning outshot the Rangers, 12-8, and enjoyed several strong offensive zone shifts. Their forecheck was effective in creating turnovers and they just missed on a number of good scoring chances. One of those chances did go in, however. Following an Anthony Cirelli offensive zone face-off win, the Lightning won several puck battles to keep the puck in the New York end. Eventually, Steven Stamkos cranked a shot from the high slot over the stick of Igor Shesterkin to tie the game. But even in that first period, their execution with the puck was slightly off. They committed some icings and a few offside passes (that brought the face-off back to the defensive zone). They did produce an excellent penalty kill late in the period to keep the game tied at one.
But from the start of the second period, the Rangers grabbed control of the game. Most of the period was played in the Tampa Bay defensive zone. The Rangers moved the puck efficiently up the ice and then, once they got it into the o-zone, they worked it around smartly to keep it there. After the Lightning broke up a New York rush just inside the blue line, they fumbled the puck and Frank Vatrano zipped in a shot from the high slot at 7:50. Less than a minute later, the Lightning evened the score. Off the rush, Stamkos put a puck to the net. Cirelli tipped it on its way to Shesterkin. The rebound came in front to Ondrej Palat, who put it in.
But the tie didn't last long. After a failed clear by the Lightning, the Rangers cashed in. Kappo Kaako set up behind the net and the Lightning lost coverage on Filip Chytil at the hashmarks. Chytil wired a one-timer past Vasilevskiy at 10:09 for what would turn out to be the game-winner.
About five and a half minutes later, Chytil struck again. The Lightning had several chances to move the puck down the ice so they could make a line change. The second period is the period of the "long change", when a team's bench is across the red line from its defensive zone. But the Lightning never managed to get their tired players off the ice and the Rangers took advantage. They intercepted pucks in neutral zone and offensive zone during the sequence. Eventually, K'Andre Miller delivered a cross-ice pass that Chytil hammered into the net at 15:43.
A Lightning neutral zone turnover in the opening minute of the third led to Artemi Panarin's two-on-one goal. Zibanejad finished the scoring with a power play marker at 6:06 - off a one-timer, he ripped a rising shot from the left circle into the top of the net.
It's certainly possible that the long layoff affected the Lightning. Their defensive level dropped, as did their ability to execute plays. They are facing an excellent opponent that will make them pay if they make significant mistakes. So heading into Game Two on Friday, the Lightning know they need to rediscover that higher defensive standard.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
1. Filip Chytil - Rangers. Two goals.
2. Igor Shesterkin - Rangers. 37 saves.
3. Ondrej Palat - Lightning. Goal.
