Lightning outlast Rangers to claim spot in Stanley Cup Finals

NEW YORK — The Tampa Bay Lightning are going back to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 2004.

Left wingers Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat broke a scoreless tie with third-period goals and goaltender Ben Bishop stopped 21 shots as the Lightning defeated the New York Rangers 2-0 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

The Rangers had won six straight Game 7s dating to 2012 and were undefeated (7-0) at MSG in Game 7s in franchise history entering Friday.

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist had his six-game winning streak in Game 7s snapped despite making 23 saves.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will take place Wednesday with the site and opponent for Tampa Bay to be determined after the Western Conference finals Game 7 between the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

The game was scoreless through two periods, largely because of Lundqvist making three great saves in the second period.

Right winger Nikita Kucherov snapped a quick from the slot with about 10 minutes remaining in the period that was answered by Lundqvist’s left pad.

Defenseman Jason Garrison and center Tyler Johnson had point-blank chances about two minutes apart during the final three minutes of the second period. Lundqvist moved across to deny Garrison on the back-door chance, then extended his right leg to stop an unfettered Johnson from near the crease.

Yet, 1:54 into the third period, a seemingly harmless shot by Killorn gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

Killorn carried the puck from the left-wing boards and to the middle of the ice. He released a soft backhander that slid along the ice, through a host of legs and between the pads of Lundqvist for the game’s first goal.

Lundqvist bounced back about six minutes later, lunging to make a save on an attempt from center Cedric Paquette after a turnover by Rangers center J.T. Miller.

Bishop wasn’t asked to make many difficult saves, but he made two saves on center Derick Brassard to preserve the one-goal lead about two minutes after Lundqvist’s great stop on Paquette.

With 8:43 to play, Palat made it 2-0 with his seventh goal of the playoffs. Johnson found an open Palat on the left wing for a wrist shot that beat Lundqvist over his catching glove.

The Rangers pulled Lundqvist for an extra skater with 3:44 to play. They were able to generate zone time in Tampa Bay’s end but were not able to muster much of a dangerous scoring chance as time elapsed.

NOTES: Lightning C Cedric Paquette returned to the lineup after missing Game 6 with a hand injury. He suffered the injury while blocking a shot during Game 5. … Both Lightning coach Jon Cooper and Rangers coach Alain Vigneault used 11 forwards and seven defensemen. … Lightning scratches included LW Jonathan Drouin, RW Jonathan Marchessault, C Vladislav Namestnikov and D Mark Barberio. … Rangers RW Mats Zuccarello missed his 14th straight game with a likely concussion. … Rangers D Matt Hunwick replaced LW James Sheppard.