The Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Here are some takeaways...
-- Both teams came into the night as two of the NHL's hotter teams, with the Rangers victorious in five of their last six, and the Lightning winning each of their last four since being defeated by the Blueshirts in their first game of the season.
-- That first matchup, of course, saw the Rangers score twice in the first period to open a lead they never looked back from en route to a 5-1 victory capped off by Igor Shesterkin burying the first goalie goal in franchise history.
-- New York got off to a strong start in this one too, led by the reigning Third Star of the Week. Alexis Lafreniere potted home his sixth goal of the season 62 seconds in, and then his seventh later in the opening period, establishing another early advantage off a pair of terrific feeds from Tye Kartye.
-- Kartye continues to excel since jumping into the top-six, and Lafreniere now leads the league in goals.
-- Matt Rempe has been glued to the press box since the season opener, but he was sure to make his mark skating in his second game of the season. The big-bodied fourth liner had three hits during the first period, and dropped the mitts in his first fight since breaking his thumb in one a year ago.
-- Tampa cut into the deficit, as Zemgus Girgensons found the back of the net late in the period.
-- The score remained the same until the Rangers were about to double it up with just one minute left in the second period. Sean Durzi took a Marcus Pettersson d-to-d pass and threw it on net, where Will Cuylle deflected it perfectly home for his third goal of the season, making it a 3-1 game.
-- New York's penalty kill was once again rock solid against the high-powered Lightning power play. They were able to kill off four more man advantages on the night, including a 6-on-4 late in the third period, to improve to a perfect 11-for-11 through the two meetings on the season.
-- Dylan Garand settled in nicely after the goal he allowed in the first period. The rookie finished the night stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced as he recorded the fifth win of his career, and his second since taking over for Shesterkin.
-- Mika Zibanejad had the dagger, scoring a shorthanded empty-netter, to remain perfect at home to start the season.
Highlights
Laffy’s 6th of the season! https://t.co/8qEqrXOH9u
— SNY Rangers (@SNYRangers) October 13, 2026
LAFFY X2!!!! 7 GOALS. 7 GAMES! https://t.co/7egCXMnPon
— SNY Rangers (@SNYRangers) October 13, 2026
Matt Rempe 🥊 Jeff Viel https://t.co/0EPU6xWFy9
— SNY Rangers (@SNYRangers) October 13, 2026
What's next
The Rangers and Devils faceoff in this seasons first edition of the Hudson River Rivalry.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at the Prudential Center.