There’ve been a slew of ugly games played by the New York Rangers so far in 2025-26, mostly on home ice. But their 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon was as non competitive as the Rangers looked all season.
Don’t let the final score fool you. Igor Shesterkin gave the undeserving Rangers every chance to stay in this one, even though they were out-shot 35-11 in a game that was almost exclusively played in their end of the ice.
With the score 3-1 and still within reach, the Rangers didn’t record their first shot on goal in the third period until more than 13 minutes elapsed.