Watch: Own goal late dooms Rangers in Game 1 of ECF

Adding salt to the wound, the Rangers had several chances to get back in the game during the final period. 

Minutes before the own goal, a successful Rangers challenge took one off the board for the Panthers, keeping the score 1-0. Then, after killing a penalty of their own shortly after that, the Rangers were given a gift power play off a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty 4:26 later, which they failed to capitalize on. 

Despite managing only 23 shots on the night, they also challenged Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky before Lafreniere's untimely mishap. Still, several monster saves and a goalpost prevented the Rangers from knotting up the score. 

Minutes after the own goal, Panthers center Sam Bennett scored on an empty-netter to put the icing on the cake.

The story of Game 1 was the Panthers' smothering defense and the steadiness of Bobrovsky, who posted the first shutout by an opponent in the playoffs at Madison Square Garden since 2016. 

If the Rangers want a chance at playing for the Stanley Cup, they'll have to avoid a repeat of Game 1, but it's a trend that will be hard to break. Following their victory on Wednesday, the Panthers have allowed only 27 goals in the postseason.