The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers extended their respective leads in the Stanley Cup playoffs to 2-0 in games each overnight on Wednesday, Swedish time.
The Rangers through a tight 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals with Mika Zibanejad in one of the main roles and the Panthers through an if possible even tighter 3-2 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Colorado Avalanche, on the other hand, managed to equalize in the match series against the Winnipeg Jets by getting a 5-2 victory. The Nashville Predators also rose alongside their opponent when, led by Filip Forsberg, they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 in game 2.
Here is NHL.com/sv’s Stanley Cup of the Night.
New York Rangers – Washington Capitals 4-3 (Rangers lead 2-0 in games)
Everything from the series between the Rangers and the Capitals
Mika Zibanejad accounted for a goal and an assist and Erik Gustafsson recorded two assists as the Rangers for the second game in a row got four pucks behind Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren. This time, the visitors had more to offer, however, and the fact is that Washington pushed New York all the way to the final whistle in Madison Square Garden. But Igor Shesterkin held tight and the Rangers can thus head to the American capital with a 2-0 lead in matches.
Zibanejad’s goal came on the power play 14:28 into the first period and made it 2-1 to the Rangers at the time; a well-placed wrist shot.
The assist point came 16:52 into the second period when he deliciously found a trailing K’Andre Miller for a goal in a numerical disadvantage (!).
– Mika has been great for us all season, but especially these last two games (in the playoffs), Miller said. He does everything for us; he plays power play, box play, five on five, protects leads at the end of games and sets the tone at the beginning. He does everything that is asked of him and he is a special player for us. We are lucky to have him.
Vincent Trocheck recorded a goal and an assist for the Rangers while Alexis Lafrenière was credited with two assists. For the Capitals, Tom Wilson accounted for a goal and an assist.
Lindgren saved 23 of 27 shots (85.2 percent), while Shesterkin took 22 of 25 (88.0).
