First Period started and it was already apparent the New York Rangers were fired up. Dan Boyle set the tone with the first goal of the game at the 1:53 mark. It was a perfect set up from Keith Yandle straight off the face-off. Henrik Lundqvist was holding his own with some of his familiar confident saves.
The Rangers were forced into a penalty kill at 6:27 from a high stick from Tanner Glass. It was short-lived as Tampa Bay was caught with too many men. This resulted in a New York Rangers power play after a brief four-on-four.