National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
NY Rangers 3, Tampa Bay 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 2, 2013
Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
Referees: Mike Leggo, Francois St.Laurent
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, Brian Mach
Attendance: 19204

Rangers 3, Lightning 2: Rick Nash scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Martin Biron made 30 saves in his first start of the season as visiting New York ended Tampa Bay’s five-game winning streak.

Nash zipped around Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and to the front of the net to stuff the puck under goaltender Mathieu Garon for a 2-1 lead just 3:04 into the third. Carl Hagelin added a goal and an assist, Derek Stepan also tallied and Taylor Pyatt had two assists for the Rangers.

Steven Stamkos scored his second goal of the game with 21 seconds left to bring the Lightning within 3-2. Garon made 27 saves in his second start of the season for Tampa Bay, which finished its homestand at 4-1-0.

Stamkos opened the scoring during a power play, taking a nifty pass from defenseman Matt Carle and whipping a shot under Biron’s arm from the slot 4:22 into the second period. The Rangers tied it just after their power play ended as Stepan pounced on a rebound in front at 9:50 for his first goal.

After Nash’s second goal of the season, Hagelin reached to tip Pyatt’s pass under Garon with 5:13 remaining. Biron, who stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced in the third period, won for the first time since March 13.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Stamkos has seven goals and nine assists overall and extended his point streak to eight games. … Stepan and Hagelin each notched their first goals of the season. … The Rangers scratched former Lightning D Steve Eminger and injured captain Ryan Callahan.
Top Game Performances
 
NY Rangers   Tampa Bay
Carl Hagelin 2 Points Steven Stamkos 2
Carl Hagelin 1 Goals Steven Stamkos 2
Taylor Pyatt 2 Assists Matt Carle 2
N/A Power Play Goals Steven Stamkos 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Martin Biron .938 Save Percentage Mathieu Garon .900
Martin Biron 30 Saves Mathieu Garon 27
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
NY Rangers 30 3 0-2 0-1 2 29
Tampa Bay 32 2 1-1 2-2 4 38
Upcoming Games
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Lightning have a W/L % of .667 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • NY Rangers will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Rangers have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .750 after a loss.