ANDREW COPP

The Tampa Bay Lightning know what type of effort it will take to finish off the New York Rangers.

New York led 2-0 midway through Game 3 before Tampa Bay scored three times to eke out a win. They don’t give up much and that’s how you win Stanley Cups.”The Rangers aren't discouraged by their losses on the road, where they are 2-7 this postseason. They also know what they need to improve on from the last two games — play more physical and do a better job of getting inside scoring chances against Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay had won six straight before dropping the first two games against the Rangers. “We’ve been desperate the last couple of games,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said.

The New York Rangers have been in a similar position before in this postseason — looking to reverse the momentum back home after dropping two games on the road.

Hurricanes Rangers Hockey New York Rangers fans react after center Mika Zibanejad (93) scores on Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta in the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in New York. Game 5 is in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday night, and Game 6 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. About a minute into the Hurricanes' advantage, the Rangers had a 2-on-1, short-handed chance but Raanta made a sprawling save on Zibanejad. The Rangers were unhappy with a fight that broke out at the end of Game 3 on Sunday between Lindgren and Domi. POWER PLAYSThe Rangers were 1 for 4 on the power play and are now 2 for 11 in the series.

Andrew Copp had a goal and two assists, and Frank Vatrano and Adam Fox each had a goal and an assist as the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in Game 4 to even their second-round series.

Panarin then extended the lead to 4-2 when his centering pass from beyond the goal line deflected off Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson and past Domingue at 8:02. He deflected Frank Vatrano's point shot past Domingue for his second goal of the series at 7:54. Copp got the Rangers on the scoreboard first again as he got a pass from Panarin and quickly fired a shot past Domingue from the inside edge of the right circle at 6:50. Guentzel got the rebound of a shot by Marcus Pettersson in front and fired a slap shot past Shesterkin at 8:52. The Penguins were without RW Rickard Rakell, who left in the first period of Game 1, and D Brian Dumoulin.

Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and two assists and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the best-of-seven first-round series.

Evgeni Malkin scored on a deflection 5:58 into the third overtime, giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Ryan Strome scored twice, Adam Fox added a goal and Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves as the New York Rangers recorded a third-straight shutout and their 50th win of the season, 3-0 over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. Eric Comrie made 31 saves for the Jets, who were officially eliminated post-season contention with the loss. After a scoreless first period, Strome broke through on the power play against Comrie at 15:57 of the second.

Marc-Andre Fleury may have been the biggest winner at the NHL trade deadline.

The NHL eased some of its COVID-19 health and safety protocols over the weekend for clubs that have been fully vaccinated. “The government rules are different,” said Byron, the Canadiens’ NHL Players’ Association representative. You’ve got to make the most of it.”Under the NHL’s new regulations, those fully vaccinated can dine outdoors or inside, visit a teammate or coach’s hotel room, play golf and have other social gatherings without masking or distancing requirements. Just over one-third of Americans have been fully vaccinated compared to about 3% in Canada. The NHL was the last of the major four North American pro sports leagues to announce relaxed virus protocols for teams based on individual vaccination levels.

Voluntary player workouts have been going on for more than a month, but full NHL teams will be together Monday for the first time since March. (Its about) trying to make sure that when you come back your hips and groins are all right, Copp said. Its a two-week sprint from home cities to Toronto for Eastern teams and Edmonton, Alberta, for their Western counterparts. The NHL is prohibiting teams from revealing injury or illness information as a way to project player privacy with the novel coronavirus. But I think everyone is just kind of amped and ready to go.___For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NHL players could start participating in voluntary small-group workouts, and teams began opening their training facilities Monday. Players learned Thursday training camps can open July 10, pending an agreement on returning to play later this summer. Now, the players are expected to trickle back in preparation of the resumption of the season. Players started skating by the handful this week in places like Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Edmonton, while some teams waited to open their doors. Veteran Nashville general manager David Poile said that while almost a dozen players remained in the area, the NHL has instructed teams not to ask or encourage players to show up because this stage is voluntary.

Staple Center is one of the possible locations the NHL has zeroed in on to host playoff games if it can return amid the coronavirus pandemic. Seven of the 10 locations the NHL has zeroed in on to hold playoff games if it resumes are American cities not restricted by Canadas 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Before the NHL commits to where games could be held, officials are planning for multiple scenarios. But that isnt stopping NHL executives from pitching the ability to host playoff games. None of us would agree to a situation where we are taking away testing from people that need it, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said.