The New York Rangers showcased their offensive prowess with a convincing 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Artemi Panarin led the charge, notching a hat trick, while Vincent Trocheck contributed significantly with a goal and three assists. Alexis Lafrenière also made his presence felt with two assists.
Goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin was formidable between the pipes, turning away 34 shots. The Rangers bounced back strongly after a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, improving to 6-2-0 in their last eight outings. Coach Peter Laviolette praised the team’s resilience and effort, emphasizing the importance of returning to winning ways.
The Lightning, despite their recent three-game winning streak before the holiday break, couldn’t maintain their momentum and have now lost two consecutive games. Nikita Kucherov provided a glimmer of hope with a power-play goal, but it wasn’t enough to rally his team. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy faced a challenging night, managing 16 saves.
Panarin’s scoring opened early in the first period, capitalizing on a 2-on-0 opportunity created by a defensive lapse from the Lightning. Trocheck then doubled the lead, demonstrating the Rangers’ aggressive playstyle. Despite Kucherov narrowing the gap with a power-play goal, the Rangers quickly responded through Chris Kreider and never looked back.
Panarin’s third-period performance, including two more goals, sealed the deal for New York. His exceptional play and scoring ability were on full display, earning him his second hat trick of the season and the sixth of his NHL career. Mika Zibanejad extended his point streak to ten games, underlining the team’s offensive depth.
The Rangers’ victory is a significant marker, as they become the first team this season to reach 50 points, a feat last achieved by the franchise in their 1993-94 Stanley Cup-winning season. The Lightning, facing injuries and inconsistencies, will look to regroup and find their form as the season progresses.
