This was not how the Rangers wanted to start the Eastern Conference Final. 

The Panthers waltzed to a 3-0 win to take Game 1 over the Blueshirts at Madison Square Garden. 

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<figcaption>The Rangers lost 3-0 on home ice in Game 1. <span class="credit">Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post</span></figcaption>

Florida scored one in the first from Matthew Tkachuk before adding a second goal in the third in which Alexis Lafreniere inadvertently tipped in a Florida pass past Igor Shesterkin with under four minutes to go.

By the time Sam Bennett scored the empty-netter at 18:41, the game was all but over. 

The Panthers waltzed to a 3-0 win to take Game 1 over the Blueshirts at Madison Square Garden.{ai:summary}<p>Rangers struggles continue as Panthers dominate Game 1 with a 3-0 win, despite Lafreniere's unlucky redirect, setting an unfavorable tone for the Eastern Conference Final. #sports</p>

Panthers blank Rangers to steal Game 1 of Eastern Conference Final

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