Rangers vs. Lightning score: Steven Stamkos carry Tampa to Game 4 win

The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially clawed their way back into the Eastern Conference Final.

The Lightning took control of the game in the opening minutes courtesy of a Pat Maroon goal and never trailed in a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers in Game 4.

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Star forwards Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos registered one goal apiece, while winger Ondrej Palat was also a force with a goal and two assists.

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It marked the third consecutive game in which Kucherov scored a goal and it was also his sixth point during that stretch.

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In addition, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy proved to be a brick wall in net, as he stopped 33 of the 34 shots that he faced.

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Vasilevskiy didn't surrender a goal until Artemi Panarin scored on a rebound with just 3:33 remaining in the final period. Slow starts have plagued the Lightning throughout the series, but that wasn't the case in Game 4.

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Just 2:38 into the contest, Maroon opened the scoring as he flipped home the rebound on an initial shot from defenseman Zach Bogosian.

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Bogosian drove to the net, completely undressed Rangers defenseman Justin Braun with a beautiful move, and put the puck on goaltender Igor Shesterkin to set up Maroon's tally.

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It has proved to be a tale of two cities during the Eastern Conference Final as this win gives the Lightning an 8-1 record at home during the 2022 postseason.

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Meanwhile, the Rangers are 2-7 away from Madison Square Garden during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Eastern Conference Final is now tied 2-2 as the series shifts back to New York for Thursday's pivotal Game 5.

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