Filip Chytil scored twice in the second period and the New York Rangers routed the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and an assist,
Chris Kreider also scored and Alexis Lafrenière and Adam Fox each had two assists to help New York win its franchise-record seventh straight home playoff game.
Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 shots.
Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and Ondrej Palat also scored for Tampa Bay, which had won six straight and was playing for the first time since completing its second-round sweep of Florida on May 23.
The Lightning have lost all four games against the Rangers this season.
Game 2 is Friday night at Madison Square Garden. The series shifts to Tampa for Games 3 and 4 on Sunday and Tuesday at Amalie Arena.
