Fifteen minutes of desultory action begat five minutes of activity in the opening period, with the Rangers striking twice within 64 seconds to hit the first intermission up, 2-0.
The trio of Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafrenière, and Artemi Panarin accounted for both goals, with Zibanejad netting the first on a power play at 15:09 while Florida’s Jack Studnicka was serving a delay-of-game minor for sending the puck over the glass.
Panarin started the play with a quick turn at center ice while the Panthers were on a change. He brought the puck in the left side of the zone and found Lafrenière in the corner before the former No. 1 overall pick sent it toward the crease for Zibanejad’s tap-in behind Sergei Bobrovsky.
New York struck again on its next shot on goal, with Panarin getting credit after a deflection with assists from Zibanejad and Lafrenière.
The Rangers had killed off two early penalties while allowing just two shots, and they finished the period on another power play after defenseman Aaron Ekblad was whistled at 18:52 for an illegal check to the head.
The Panthers did outshoot New York, 10-6, in the period, forcing Igor Shesterkin to make several quick-reflex saves, particularly early.