Mika Zibanejad reflects on Rangers’ 6-2 loss (Source: Imagn)

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Rangers 6-2 at Amalie Arena on Saturday. Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov each had a goal and two assists. Anthony Cirelli and Jake Guentzel added a goal and an assist. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 42 saves. The Lightning have won six of their last seven games. The Rangers, however, have lost six of their last seven games.

Kucherov opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period. Artemi Panarin tied it for the Rangers. Ryan McDonagh scored a short-handed goal to give Tampa Bay the lead. Point added another goal in the second period, making it 3-1.

Cirelli scored another short-handed goal to extend the lead. Guentzel’s power-play goal chased Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin out of the game. Trocheck scored a short-handed goal for the Rangers early in the third period. Nick Paul added another goal for Tampa Bay to make it 6-2.

After the game, Mika Zibanejad shared his thoughts on the loss. He said the result was not what the Rangers wanted. He didn’t think the game was as one-sided as the score showed.

“We talk about a reset, we can talk about whatever, and if the result is not there, then it’s not going to matter how the game goes. But I don’t think it was a 6-2 game like that,” Zibanejad said.

Zibanejad also mentioned that special teams were a problem.

“Like I said, the special teams that kind of got to us. We don’t score on ours, and on our power play, we let in two goals. – we put ourselves in a bad spot,” he explained.

Zibanejad defended the team’s effort, saying it wasn’t the reason they lost.

“I don’t think that’s the effort. I don’t think that’s the team itself…,” he added.

He also pointed out that New York had 45 shots on goal.

“We’ve got to get in front, maybe a few more and get some quality chances,” he said.

Zibanejad admitted it was frustrating but believed the team could improve moving forward.

Previously Rangers lost 5-0 to Devils on Monday

On Monday, the New Jersey Devils won 5-0 against the New York Rangers. Jack Hughes scored first at 4:29 in the first period. Timo Meier added a power-play goal early in the second. Hughes scored again with another power-play goal at 11:13.

Stefan Noesen made it 4-0 at 8:00 in the third with a quick pass play. Dawson Mercer finished the scoring with a power-play goal at 12:35. Jacob Markstrom made 12 saves for the shutout. New York had trouble generating offense and went 0-for-4 on the power play.

On December 30, 2024, the New York Rangers(16-18-1) will play against the Florida Panthers (22-13-2) at 7:00 PM EST.