TAMPA — In a stunning display of offensive prowess, the New York Rangers outplayed the Tampa Bay Lightning with a decisive 7-3 victory on Wednesday night. This win marks their second in a row, showcasing their formidable road performance.
Leading the charge for the Rangers were Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck, each netting two goals. Contributions also came from J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafrenière, and Will Borgen, while Artemi Panarin was instrumental, assisting on four goals. Goalie Igor Shesterkin was solid between the pipes, making 31 saves, and helping New York bolster their impressive road record to 8-1-1.
Despite their previous success, with six wins in their last seven games, the Lightning struggled to find their rhythm. Scott Sabourin, Zemgus Girgensons, and Jake Guentzel managed to score, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Rangers’ offensive onslaught. Andrei Vasilevskiy, the starting goaltender for Tampa, had a tough night, allowing five goals on 13 shots over two periods. Jonas Johansson took over in the third, stopping six shots.
This victory follows New York’s 6-3 triumph over Nashville earlier in the week, marking the team’s first home win of the season and their highest scoring game yet.
Trocheck was pivotal in expanding New York’s lead, scoring late in the second period with just 1:41 left. He capitalized on a skillful cross-ice pass from Panarin, striking from the right circle after Vasilevskiy lost his footing. Trocheck continued his scoring streak into the third period, finding the net again at 5:03, which boosted the Rangers’ lead to three goals. Cuylle sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with just over two minutes left in the game.
Trocheck scored again at 5:03 of the third from the slot to give the Rangers a three-goal lead, and Cuylle added an empty-netter with 2:11 remaining to cap the scoring.
Cuylle got the Rangers on the scoreboard with a power-play goal at 1:08. Adam Fox’s shot from above the inside edge of the left circle d eflected off Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak and then the end boards right to Cuylle on the left doorstep for a quick goal.
The Rangers doubled the Lead at 3:31 when Mika Zibanejad’s pass went off Miller’s skate and in.
Sabourin pulled the Lightning to 2-1 as he beat Shesterkin from the left circle at 6:04 for his first, and Lafrenière scored from the right circle 1:04 later to restore New York’s two-goal lead.
Girgensons pulled Tampa Bay back within one with 6:01 left in the first. Oliver Bjoristrand’s shot from the slot hit Yanni Gourde in front and Girgensons put the loose puck in.
Borgen capped the Rangers’ four-goal opening period with 3:40 remaining and Guentzel scored a short-handed goal 1:12 later to pull the Lightning to 4-3.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Play at Columbus on Saturday.
Lightning: Visit Florida on Saturday.
