NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers entered Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals with their adrenaline still pumping from Monday's Game 7 win at the Carolina Hurricanes. The Tampa Bay Lightning, in contrast, hit the ice for the first time since completing a sweep of the Florida Panthers way back on May 23.
Their respective layoffs showed in the Rangers' 6-2 romp over the Lightning on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden to take a 1-0 series lead.
"There was a lot of sharpness [for us]. Like we talked about, our team just kept going.