Editor’s Note: Now, all our premium tools for Fantasy, DFS and Betting are included in one subscription at one low price. Customers can subscribe to NBC Sports EDGE+ monthly ($9.99) or save 20% on an annual subscription ($95.88). And don’t forget to use promo code SAVE10 to get 10% off. Click here to learn more!
Feel free to check out the Western Conference Final preview, which features the Colorado Avalanche against the Edmonton Oilers.
NEW YORK RANGERS (M2) VERSUS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (A3)
The Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for a third straight year after winning in four straight games against the Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Lightning outscored the Panthers by a 13-3 margin in the series. It was a dominating performance after the Bolts were pushed to seven games in the opening round by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in the second round after eliminating the Pittsburgh Penguins in a seven-game series during the opening round. The home team had won every game of the Rangers-Hurricanes matchup until Game 7 when New York ended Carolina’s seven-game win streak at PNC Arena during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Andrei Vasilevskiy had a rocky performance in the first round before closing the door on the Leafs in Game 7. He carried that momentum into Round 2 by stopping 151 of 154 Florida shots for a remarkable .981 save percentage. Vasilevskiy has allowed one goal or fewer in each of his past five starts. He finished the series with his seventh career playoff shutout. Vasilevskiy blanked the opposition five times during Tampa Bay’s 2021 postseason run en route to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Igor Shesterkin took some to warm up in the postseason as well with an uneven performance against Pittsburgh prior to an outstanding series versus Carolina. He started to gain steam in Games 6 and 7 versus the Penguins prior to holding the Hurricanes to two goals or fewer on six occasions. Shesterkin turned aside 222 of 234 shots for a .949 save percentage in Round 2. He regained the form he displayed during the regular season that made him the Vezina Trophy favorite.
Tampa Bay played without the services of first-line center Brayden Point against Florida after he was injured in Game 7 versus Toronto. His availability remains uncertain for the Eastern Conference Final because of a lower-body injury. Point has been progressing off the ice and there is a chance he could be available at some point in the third round.
Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning in scoring with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 11 games during the playoffs. Victor Hedman isn’t far behind him with 10 points (two goals. eight assists) in 11 outings. Ross Colton (five goals, three assists), Ondrej Palat (four goals, four assists) and Steven Stamkos (four goals, four assists) have eight points apiece. Corey Perry (five goals, one assist) and Nick Paul (two goals, four assists) have provided some depth production.
The Rangers have been led offensively in the postseason by Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox, who rank third and fourth overall, respectively. Zibanejad has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) and Fox has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists). Andrew Copp has produced 12 points (six goals, six assists), while Chris Kreider (eight goals, three assists) and Artemi Panarin (four goals, seven assists) have 11 points apiece. Ryan Strome (two goals, seven assists), Frank Vatrano (three goals, five assists) and Filip Chytil (five goals, one assist) have supplied some depth production.
It will be eight days between games for Tampa Bay when the Eastern Conference Final begins on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The additional time has allowed the Lightning to recover from some bumps and bruises, which should be beneficial, but it could impact their timing when the series starts. New York will be playing on just one day of rest after Monday night’s win over Carolina. Maintaining that rhythm could work in their favor, but fatigue may become a factor.
The East Final features a great goaltending matchup between Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. Both goaltenders are capable of stealing games and their red hot play suggests this could be a low-scoring series. The Lightning and Rangers have also both benefited from scoring up and down their lineups. Tampa Bay has done a tremendous job of taking advantage of the mistakes of their opponents during this postseason, which will be their possible path to victory again, especially if they can shut down the Rangers like they did to the high-octane offenses of Florida and Toronto. New York has been a resilient team in the playoffs, while coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh and a 3-2 deficit versus Carolina. If goaltending is a wash then the biggest strength of the Rangers and a big factor in their previous two series wins could potentially be off the table.
Don’t forget, for everything NHL, check out NBC Sports EDGE’s Player News, and follow @NBCSEdgeHK and @CoreAbbott on Twitter.
Players to Watch
Corey Perry – Perry accounted for three goals on 10 shots and added one assist across four games in Round 2 versus Florida. He potted two goals on the power play, while occupying a spot on the top combination because of Point’s absence. Perry will look to reach the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight season with a third different team. His Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens lost to the Lightning in each of the past two postseasons. Perry has 14 goals and 25 points over his last 60 outings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Alex Killorn – Killorn didn’t have a point in the second round against the Panthers. He picked up four assists in seven matches during the opening round versus Toronto. It has been a quiet postseason for Killorn offensively after he amassed 17 points, including eight goals, in 19 contests during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He suffered a broken fibula in the series opener of the Cup Final against Montreal that sidelined him for the remainder of that postseason.
Chris Kreider – Kreider was held to three goals and one assist in Round 2 versus Carolina, but he picked up three points in the final contests of the series, including two markers in Game 7. He has a 7-1 record over his career in Game 7s. Only six players in NHL history have more. Kreider has 14 career goals when facing elimination in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is the most among active players. He is also the lone member of the Rangers who played for the team in 2015 Eastern Conference Final.
Adam Fox – Fox generated two goals and six helpers in the second round versus the Hurricanes. He finished the series with a five-game point streak. Only two players in NHL history have recorded more points than Fox (1G, 9A in 5 GP) in a single postseason when facing elimination. They were Justin Williams (6G, 5A in 7 GP) and Anze Kopitar (5G, 6A in 7 GP) in 2013 as members of the Los Angeles Kings.
The App is Back! Don’t forget to download the NBC Sports EDGE app to receive real-time player news, mobile alerts and track your favorite players. Plus, now you can check out articles and player cards. Get it here!
Additional Series Notes
Tampa Bay is the third team in NHL history to have 10 straight playoff series wins, joining the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens.
The Rangers have made the Conference Final four times since 2012, which trails only the Lightning’s six appearances over that span.
The Lightning power play has scored 11 times on 48 chances this postseason.
Tampa Bay has the best goals against per game played (2.45) of the remaining four teams in the playoffs.
New York has the second-best power play in the postseason at 32.5%. They have scored 13 times on 40 opportunities
The Lightning penalty kill has given up five goals, while being shorthanded 41 times. The team’s 87.8% success rate is the best of the remaining teams in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Rangers’ penalty kill has surrendered eight goals, while being down a man 41 times.
Tampa Bay has won a playoff-high five times when leading after the first period.
The Lightning are tied for second in the postseason with 15 goals scored in the third period.
The Rangers have been credited with 435 hits in 14 games, while the Lightning have 433 in 11 matches.
New York leads the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 236 blocked shots by skaters.
Tampa Bay has seven victories this postseason when they score the first goal of the game, which leads all teams.
The Rangers have a playoff-high 258 giveaways and have the surrendered the most shots against per game played (38.9) of the remaining teams in the postseason.
