The Tampa Bay Lightning are riding high as they prepare to extend their winning streak to seven games against the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon. After a rocky start, where they stumbled to a 1-4-2 record that included five one-goal losses, the Lightning have found their stride with an impressive 14-3-0 record since. Their current winning streak has seen them dominating opponents, outscoring them 26-9, highlighted by a recent 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
In that win, Darin Raddysh shone with two goals, following an early deficit after the Lightning conceded the first goal. Nikita Kucherov contributed with two assists, extending his remarkable point streak to eight games, during which he has amassed four goals and 11 assists. Yanni Gourde also scored twice, assisting the Lightning in scoring six goals for the second time this season. Lightning coach Jon Cooper emphasized the team’s resilience, noting that goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy played a crucial role in keeping the game under control despite early struggles.
On the other side, the New York Rangers aim to turn around their home performance after a shaky 2-7-1 start at Madison Square Garden. New York is currently on its third three-game winning streak of the season, having recently broken a seven-game winless streak at home. Their momentum picked up with a solid 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues, followed by impressive road wins against the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins, including a dominant 6-2 win in Boston where they scored four unanswered goals to take control early in the match.
In that game, Artemi Panarin and Carson Soucy got things started with goals, while Mika Zibanejad netted two power-play goals. Coach Mike Sullivan noted that the team’s power play was a decisive factor, and he was pleased with their response to pressure, emphasizing a need for discipline in their game as they try to maintain their lead.
The upcoming game will see the Rangers begin a stretch of playing eight out of 11 games at home, which presents a critical opportunity for them to improve their home record while they build off their recent success. With both teams showing resilience and skill, Saturday’s matchup promises to be an exciting clash as the Lightning look to maintain their hot streak while the Rangers aim to secure their position at home.