TAMPA, Fla. — Rick Nash scored a go-ahead goal early in the third period and the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Saturday night.
The Rangers took a 2-1 lead on Nash’s second goal of the season, coming at 3:04 of the third period. He skated in from the right wing boards, eluded Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman and jammed the puck past goalie Mathieu Garon.
Carl Hagelin made it 3-1 with 5:13 to play with his first goal in 20 games. Derek Stepan also scored for New York.
Steven Stamkos scored both goals for the Lightning, who went 4-1 on a five-game homestand. The center, who cut the deficit to 3-2 with 21 seconds remaining, has seven goals and 16 points during a season-opening eight-game point streak.
Rangers goalie Martin Biron made 30 saves in his first start and second appearance of the season. Garon started for the second time this season and had 27 saves.
Stamkos put the Lightning ahead 1-0 from the low slot off a pass from Matt Carle during a power play at 4:22 of the second. Martin St. Louis also assisted on the goal, giving him nine assists over the past five games.
Stepan tied it at 1 with 10:10 left in the second on a backhand rebound goal.
The Lightning nearly took a 2-1 lead 13 minutes into the second when B.J. Crombeen’s apparent goal was disallowed for putting the puck into the net with a high stick. The call was upheld by a video review.
Tampa Bay’s Cory Conacher hit the crossbar on a shot from just outside the crease later in the second.
Garon made an in-close save on Marian Gaborik, who took a pass skating down the slot from Nash, midway through the first.
Notes: St. Louis has 11 assists and 14 points this season. … New York G Henrik Lundqvist had started 27 of the Rangers previous 28 games against Tampa Bay. … Garon started all four Tampa Bay games against the Rangers last season, going 2-1-1. … Rangers LW Chris Kreider (ankle) is practicing with the team.