NEW YORK — The Lightning spent most of Tuesday night’s season opener playing with fire.
In a matchup between two of the league’s top goaltenders, goals were at a premium. But the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy saw an onslaught of shots come his way.
Vasilevskiy was marvelous, but the volume caught up with the Lightning.
Mika Zibanejad scored twice, including the eventual game-winner for the Rangers, a one-timer from the left circle 5:11 into the third period, to send the Lightning to a 3-1 loss in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference final.
The Lightning were outshot 39-27.
Tampa Bay was rusty. This wasn’t the dud the Lightning played on opening night at home last season against Pittsburgh when they raised their Stanley Cup banner. But they did allow too many wide-open looks in front of the net and too many odd-man rushes, forcing Vasilevskiy to sweat and sprawl out to keep the Lightning in the game.
The Rangers’ first goal of the game came short-handed when Zibanejad scored on the rush 3:25 into the second period.
The Lightning were rewarded a 5-on-3 power play 8:02 into the second period after Brandon Hagel stole the puck and drew two penalties on the same play.
With the Lightning playing five forwards on the two-man advantage, Steven Stamkos connected for Tampa Bay’s first goal of the season, evening the score with a one-timer from the left point that came off Brayden Point’s offensive zone faceoff win.
Former Lightning forward Barclay Goodrow redirected in Ryan Lindgren’s puck on net from the point with 9 minutes left in the third for the final margin.
