3 Keys: Lightning at Rangers, Game 2 of Eastern Conference Final

(3A) Lightning at (2M) Rangers
8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS
New York leads best-of-7 series 1-0

The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to extend one of the most impressive streaks in the NHL by winning their 18th straight game following a loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they play Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
The Rangers won Game 1, 6-2, at the Garden on Wednesday. But Tampa Bay has not lost back-to-back games in the playoffs since getting swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round in 2019, going 17-0 in games following a loss since 2020.
"We as a group are pretty good as self-correcting and guys, they take losses personal," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Thursday. "Wednesday] night especially, as deep as we are right now and kind of the way the score got out of hand, it affects the guys. But I give them credit, they self-correct. They know what works for us and what doesn't and clearly saw what didn't work for us [Wednesday] night. I can't guarantee the result, obviously, but I expect better from us."
The Rangers are ahead in a best-of-7 series for the first time this postseason.
They were down 1-0 and later 3-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round before coming back to win in seven games. They were down 2-0 and 3-2 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round but responded to win that series in seven games, too.
"We're up 1-0 in the series but it doesn't make a difference," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said Thursday. "It doesn't matter how you get to seven games or whatever it's going to be. You just worry about the next game. You move on."
***[RELATED: [Complete Rangers vs. Lightning series coverage]*
Teams that take a 2-0 lead hold an all-time series record of 340-53 (86.5 percent) winning a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, including 3-1 in the 2022 playoffs
Teams that take a 2-0 lead when starting at home hold an all-time series record of 255-33 (88.5 percent) winning a best-of-7 series, including 2-1 in 2022.
Here are 3 keys to Game 2:

1. Vasilevskiy's response

To say Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had an uncharacteristic performance in Game 1 would be an understatement.
Vasilevskiy allowed six goals on 34 shots, double the amount he allowed on 154 shots in four games against the Florida Panthers in the second round. The Rangers appeared to be targeting his blocker, scoring four of their six goals on that side.
Vasilevskiy worked with goalie coach Frantz Jean before practice Thursday and rested during the main optional practice. The blocker side might have been a focus.
Either way, Vasilevskiy has been known to bounce back well. He has been in net for all 17 of the Lightning's wins following a loss in the playoffs since 2020, allowing 28 goals for a 1.47 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. He has five shutouts in those games.
"Our team, they take losses personal, but I would say the goalie really takes it personal," Cooper said.

2. New York's neutral zone

A key reason why the Rangers have scored 17 goals in their past three games has been their ability to transition the puck quickly and cleanly through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone.
The Rangers have been either skating the puck or making quick passes to get through with speed. It has forced the opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes in Games 6 and 7 of the second round, and the Lightning in Game 1 on Wednesday, to push back and be on their heels.
The attack-mode has also put the Rangers in position to force the opponent to take penalties, putting them on the power play. They are 5-for-10 on the power play in the past three games.
The more the Rangers can generate speed and find open space in the middle of the ice the better they will be at attacking the Lightning.
But it's on Tampa Bay to make the adjustment to clamp down in the middle of the ice and force the Rangers to go wide or play a chip and chase game, which is not their bread and butter.

3. Can Kucherov connect?

Nikita Kucherov had a team-high seven shots on goal and 12 shot attempts in Game 1, but the Lightning forward was held off the scoresheet and was a minus-2.
Kucherov had several chances, especially in the first period, when he had four of his shots on goal. However, he was either stopped on a point-blank shot by Shesterkin or he missed the net, as he did on a 2-on-1 with Nick Paul at 12:23.
If the chances keep coming in Game 2, look out, because Kucherov isn't one to usually be held down for too long if he's getting Grade A opportunities. Kucherov led the postseason in scoring in 2020 and 2021 and leads the Lightning with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in these playoffs.

Lightning projected lineup

Steven Stamkos -- Anthony Cirelli -- Nikita Kucherov
Ondrej Palat -- Nicholas Paul -- Alex Killorn
Brandon Hagel -- Ross Colton -- Corey Perry
Pat Maroon -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Victor Hedman -- Erik Cernak
Ryan McDonagh -- Zach Bogosian
Mikhail Sergachev -- Cal Foote
Jan Rutta
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
Scratched:Riley Nash
Injured:Brayden Point (lower body)

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Frank Vatrano
Artemi Panarin -- Ryan Strome -- Andrew Copp
Alexis Lafreniere
-- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte -- Barclay Goodrow -- Ryan Reaves
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Justin Braun -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched:Kevin Rooney, Patrik Nemeth, Libor Hajek, Greg McKegg, Julien Gauthier, Jonny Brodzinski, Dryden Hunt
Injured:Sammy Blais (knee)

Status report

Neither team held a morning skate. ... Each team is likely to use the same lineup from Game 1.