Tampa Bay Lightning Triumph Over New York Rangers
In a dominant performance at Madison Square Garden, the Tampa Bay Lightning triumphed over the New York Rangers with a score of 4-1, marking their seventh consecutive victory. Brandon Hagel was the standout player, scoring two goals while Jonas Johansson made a solid contribution by stopping 11 shots to help Tampa Bay maintain their winning momentum.
Impressive Winning Streak
This win extends the Lightning’s impressive record since November 18, during which they have gone unbeaten, boasting a striking 30-10 goal differential against their opponents. Meanwhile, the Rangers faced boos from their own fans as they fell to a disappointing 2-8-1 record on home ice, suffering five shutouts and managing to score only once in three other games. In contrast, the Rangers have enjoyed better luck on the road, standing at 11-4-1 away from home.
Game Highlights
Hagel initiated the scoring for Tampa Bay in the first period, netting his goal at 10:53 after his shot deflected off the skate of Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy. He doubled the Lightning’s lead at 8:57 in the second, following up his own shot to slide in his 15th goal of the season. Both of Hagel’s goals were assisted by Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Darren Raddysh, with Kucherov also extending his point streak to nine games, accumulating four goals and 14 assists in that span.
J.T. Miller was the only source of light for the Rangers, breaking Johansson’s shutout with a goal at 17:31 of the second period, assisted by Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad. However, just 2:02 into the third, Nick Paul scored to push the Lightning’s lead to 3-1, with rookie defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous receiving an assist.
Jake Guentzel capped off the Lightning’s scoring with an empty-net goal in the final minute of the game. The Rangers’ Fox also faced a challenging moment when he was checked hard into the boards by Hagel, leaving the game with an injury early in the third period.
Goaltending and Team Depth
The Rangers’ goaltender Igor Shesterkin made a commendable 31 saves during the match, although the Lightning heavily outshot them, particularly dominating the early stages with an 11-2 shot advantage in the first period.
Despite several key absences, including defensemen Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak, and forward Brayden Point, the Lightning showcased their depth and resilience.
Looking Ahead
As the teams look ahead, the Rangers will host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, while the Lightning will face off against the New York Islanders the same night.
