TASS, June 2. The New York Rangers defeated Tampa 6-2 at home on Thursday night in Game 1 of the National Hockey League (NHL) semi-final playoff series.
As part of the Rangers, goals were scored by Chris Kreider (2nd minute), Frank Vatrano (28), Filip Khytil (31, 36), Mika Zibanejad (47), as well as Russian forward Artemiy Panarin (41). Kreider’s goal was scored from the first shot on target in the match.
The losers scored Steven Stamkos (8) and Ondrej Palat (29). Russian defender “Tampa” Mikhail Sergachev gave an assist.
Panarin also scored an assist and now has 13 points (5 goals + 8 assists) in 15 games in the current Stanley Cup season. Sergachev scored the fifth point (0+5) in the 12th game. His compatriot and teammate forward Nikita Kucherov did not score in the match. Russian goaltender “Tampa” Andrey Vasilevsky repelled 28 of 34 shots, goaltender “Rangers” Igor Shesterkin — 37 of 39.
The score in the series to four wins was 1-0 in favor of the Rangers. The next match will be held in New York on June 4, starting at 03:00 Moscow time.
The teams meet for the second time in the NHL playoffs. In 2015, Tampa defeated the Rangers in the Stanley Cup semifinals 4–3 in the series.
According to the results of the regular season, Tampa took third place in the standings of the Atlantic Division, the Rangers became the second in the Capital Division. Tampa are the current holders of the Stanley Cup. The team also won the trophy in 2004 and 2020. The Rangers have won the Stanley Cup four times, the last time the team won the playoffs in 1994.
