Lightning even ECF with 4-1 win over Rangers

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers in the second period in game four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Lightning even Eastern Conference Final with 4-1 win over Rangers in Game 4

By Adam Stites | Last updated 6/7/22

The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers are even at two wins apiece in the Eastern Conference Final after the Lightning won Game 4 on Tuesday night, 4-1.

The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions scored once in each of the first two periods with goals from Pat Maroon and Nikita Kucherov. In the third period, Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat added two more goals for the Lightning.

Kucherov's goal was his seventh of the playoffs and his 11th point in home games this postseason. It brought his total points in home playoff games over the last three seasons to 50, a number only Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky managed to reach over a three-year span in the last 35 years.

#86 in all alone? Never in doubt. #StanleyCup

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— NHL (@NHL) June 8, 2022

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded saves on the Rangers' first 31 shots on goal, but was denied the eighth postseason shutout of his career when Artemi Panarin scored late in the third period. Vasilevskiy has allowed just four goals in the team's last four games in Tampa.

The Lightning have now won six consecutive home games in the playoffs. The Rangers' home winning streak is eight.

The series will now return to New York City for Game 5, which is scheduled for Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET. The winner of the Eastern Conference Final will meet the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final.

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