It was a tight checking affair in game one of the Eastern Conference Final, but the Rangers drew first blood in their series with the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 2-1 win. Dominic Moore was the hero scoring a late third period goal to give the Rangers a lead they would not relenquish.
“It’s just one game, but you always look to get a good start and build something,” explained goaltender Henrik Lundqvist post-game. “It’s always a good feeling to start at home with a good feeling and build some confidence because you start over (each playoff series). This was a good first step for us.”
Rangers Take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final
Moore scored the game-winner with 2:45 to play in regulation on a deflection off his knee while driving to the net, with Kevin Hayes providing a neat centering feed from the left-wing corner. It was Moore’s first goal in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Derick Brassard, also assisted on the game-winning goal.
“It’s nice because (Dom’s) probably a player that doesn’t get a lot of recognition for some of the things he does, but at this time of the year the way the game is played it’s magnified what he brings to the team,” Martin St. Louis said of Moore scoring the game-winner. “He’s really a key contributor.”
Lundqvist made 23 saves in the victory, another nail-biter as New York played its 13th consecutive one-goal game in these playoffs.
“I think we have confidence in our group when it comes down to it because we believe in each other and the system that we have,” Lundqvist said of playing another tight contest decided by one goal. “I think it helps us when we’re in that position almost every night that you keep your focus on the right things. We all understand that every play matters throughout the game.”
The Rangers had entered the third period holding a 1-0 lead, but with Ryan McDonagh sitting in the penalty box, Tampa Bay pulled even with a power play goal at 6:45 of the third. Tyler Johnson, who had been high-sticked by McDonagh at 5:44, made a cross-ice pass to Ondrej Palat on right wing and Palat fired a wrist shot past Lundqvist tying the score 1-1.
Derek Stepan had given the Rangers a 1-0 lead by scoring on a rebound with 12.7 seconds remaining in the second period. To that point New York had largely controlled the action and had the better of the scoring chances, but had failed to convert in what was a scoreless game through nearly two full periods of play.
Game two of the series goes Monday Night at Madison Square Garden.
