NHL Game Summary - Tampa Bay at NY Rangers

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov scored nine seconds apart in the second period, supporting a strong return from Ben Bishop and lifting the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Making his first appearance since spraining his right wrist on Jan. 5, Bishop allowed just Brad Richards' first-period goal on 34 shots to outduel Henrik Lundqvist and put an end to the Rangers' season high-tying three-game win streak.

Lundqvist finished with 23 saves.

Down 1-0 after one period, the Lightning wasted little time moving ahead by potting a pair of goals less than 90 seconds into the second.

Ryan Callahan's penalty for a high stick on Bishop was converted into Hedman's 10th marker of the season, a long drive that rocketed past Lundqvist's glove with 1:10 elapsed in the middle session.

Tampa Bay then won the opening faceoff, with Kucherov splitting the Ranger defense while receiving a well-placed pass from Radko Gudas before beating Lundqvist one-on-one to put the Lightning in front.

Bishop made the lead stand with a 12-save second period and 11 more in the third, helping kill off a pair of New York power plays in the final 14 minutes.

The Rangers' best chance at drawing even came on the first of those man advantages, but Ryan McDonagh had a deflected shot hit the post and Bishop later stoned Mats Zuccarello from close range with under 12 1/2 minutes left.

New York received another 5-on-4 when Alex Killorn was sent off for tripping with 4:39 to go, but again failed to convert.

Richards had the lone score during a penalty-free opening period, landing a quick snap shot by Bishop off a Callahan feed with 8:05 remaining in the frame.