Rangers vs. Lightning: Live score, updates, highlights from NHL opening night game

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Opening night in the NHL is here and up first is a rematch of the 2022 Eastern Conference Final as the Rangers host the Lightning in New York tonight. 

Tampa Bay fell behind 2-0 to New York in the playoffs, but the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup champs rallied off four straight wins to punch their ticket to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. However, they were not able to get the three-peat, as the Avalanche knocked the Bolts off in six games. 

The Rangers had an excellent 2021-22 campaign, making a deep postseason run in a season many thought would end with New York out of the playoff picture. Instead, the young group in New York took a major step in development, no one more than Igor Shesterkin who was the best goalie in the league last season, winning the 2022 Vezina Trophy. 

MORE: Watch the 2022-23 NHL season on ESPN+

This season, both the Rangers and Lightning figure to be players again in the Eastern Conference, and the journey starts tonight at Madison Square Garden with each team’s first game of the season. 

The Sporting News will provide updates and highlights for the Rangers vs. Lightning opening night game. 

Rangers vs. Lightning score

Matchup P1 P2 P3 OT F
Lightning 0 1 0 0 0
Rangers 0 1 0 0 0

Rangers vs. Lightning live updates, highlights 

End second period: Rangers 1, Lightning 1

9:13 p.m. — A goal a piece in the middle frame for both teams, neither coming at 5 on 5. It’s been a back and forth again, but the storyline remains the play in net by Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin. Shots are 32 to 16 in favor of New York. 

9:09 p.m. — Another successful kill for the Lightning. It hasn’t been for lack of looks, as New York spent that entire power play in Tampa Bay’s zone, but they have not been able to capitalize on the man advantage. 

9:05 p.m. — New York heads back to man advantage as Stamkos heads to the box for slashing. Rangers are 00-for-2 on the power play with 10 shots on goal. 

9:03 p.m. — Unbelievable chance for the Rangers. Vasilevskiy robs Kreider again, stretching across the crease and stopping his shot attempt. The Lightning goalie has had Kreider’s number so far tonight. Back to 5 on 5. 

9:01 p.m. — The Rangers now head to their second power play of the night as Ross Colton interferes with Filip Chytil off a faceoff. New York peppered Shesterkin with six shots on the first attempt. 

8:57 p.m. — Mikhail Sergachev coughs up the puck at the New York blue line and Panarin goes down on a breakaway. He elects to shoot and tries to beat Vasilevskiy low on the blocker side, but he kicks the attempt to the corner. 

8:56 p.m. — We’re back to even strength, but the damage is done and the Lightning have tied the game. They had one goal at 5 on 3 all last season; they get one in their first game of the 2022-23 season. 

8:54 p.m. — GOAL! Right off the faceoff after the Kucherov chance, Stamkos one-times a pass by Kucherov and beats Shesterkin. Point wins the faceoff to Kucherov, who takes it a stride and feeds Stamkos for the clapper, 1-1 game and it’s still a power play for the Lightning. 

8:53 p.m. — Really strong save by Shesterkin. Stamkos finds Kucherov on the right side through a seam for a one-timer, but the Rangers goalie closes his legs and keeps the puck out from going five-hole. 

8:51 p.m. — Lightning will go back to the power play, as K’Andre Miller is called tripping and Barclay Goodrow is whistled for elbowing. Brandon Hagel drew both of the penalties on that play, so it’s a full two-minute 5 on 3 for Tampa Bay. 

8:50 p.m. — With Kravtsov out, Lafreniere moves up to play with Panarin and Trocheck for the Rangers. 

8:39 p.m. — GOAL! Zibanejad gets the Rangers on the board with a shorthanded tally. Zibanejad and Kreider had a chance on a 2 on 1 earlier that Vasilevskiy stopped, but a second odd man rush results in Zibanejad faking a shot, pulling to the backhand and roofing it over Vasilevskiy. Less than four minutes into the second, it’s 1-0 Rangers. 

8:39 p.m. — Strong pressure early by the Lightning and it results in a penalty to the Rangers. Vincent Trocheck is called for holding. 

8:38 p.m. — Kravtsov is officially ruled out for the rest of night with an upper-body injury, per the Rangers.

End first period: Rangers 0, Lightning 0

8:18 p.m. — No score after 20 minutes in New York. Goaltending was expected to be the story of the game, and both Vasilevskiy and Shesterkin look very comfortable in net. Shots are 14-8 in favor of the Rangers. 

8:14 p.m. — Excellent chance for the Rangers, as Chris Kreider is sitting on the backdoor and takes a feed from Artemi Panarin. He tries to poke it into the net, but Vasilevskiy denies him going across the crease with his pad. Vasilevskiy has looked extremely sharp early on. 

8:11 p.m. — Rangers get their first PP of the season as Erik Cernak is called for holding Kappo Kakko. New York ranked 4th on the power play last season. 

8:06 p.m. — A great chance down low for the Rangers as Jacob Trouba gets a chance on the doorstep, but Vasilevskiy slides over and gets a pad on the stop. Looks like Trouba may have whiffed on the shot attempt. 

8 p.m. — Just two shifts into the game, and Vitali Kravstov heads off the ice with an apparent upper-body injury. He got pinched along the boards by Victor Hedman. 

7:59 p.m. — Some solid chances on either side, as first Shesterkin stuffs a jam attempt by Nick Paul and the rebound shot from Brandon Hagel. At the other end, Vasilevskiy shrugs a Barclay Goodrow shot off the shoulder. Almost at the midway point and still 0-0. 

7:55 p.m. — Ryan Reaves in midseason form, as he crunches Haydn Fleury on the forecheck. 

7:51 p.m. — Back and forth to start, a lot of dumping and forechecking on both sides. NO quality chances yet as we hit five minutes into the first. 

7:47 p.m. — Puck is down and the 2022-23 NHL season (in North America) is underway!

Pregame

7:15 p.m. — Here’s a look at the lines for the two teams tonight. 

6:30 p.m. — It will be a battle between two of the best goaltenders in the league, as the 2022 Vezina winner Igor Shesterkin goes head-to-head against Andrei Vasilevskiy. 

What time is Rangers vs. Lightning?

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.

The puck drop for the Rangers and Lightning game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden. 

What channel is Rangers vs. Lightning on?

  • TV channel: ESPN (U.S.) | SN1 (Canada)

ESPN will be home to both NHL games on Tuesday night in the United States, as the network is set to broadcast Rangers vs. Lightning followed by the Kings hosting the Golden Knights.

Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro and Emily Kaplan will have the call of the Rangers vs. Lightning game on ESPN.

Viewers in Canada can watch the game on Sportsnet, as it will be available on SN1.

How to live stream Rangers vs. Lightning

Fans in the United States can stream the Rangers vs. Lightning on fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Viewers in Canada can stream the game on SN NOW.

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