Grabner’s Hat Trick Helps Rangers Take Paddle To Bolts (Highlights)

New York Rangers winger Michael Grabner tallies a hat trick in helping his New York Rangers take the paddle to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

• New York Rangers 6 (6-3, 12 pts)
• Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (5-4, 10 pts)
• NHL, Final, Box Score
• Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

New York Rangers bottom-six forward Michael Grabner had himself a night.

At Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, Grabner collected a hat-trick in his team’s dominating 6-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a scoreless and ho-hum first period, New York scored three goals in a 2:19 span in the second.

Rick Nash got the party started by releasing a wicked, quick snapshot in beating Ben Bishop top-shelf on the breakaway:

That's just Nashty.#NYR pic.twitter.com/B6h8BSJFzd

— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 31, 2016

After Grabner’s first goal — set up beautifully by young Brady Skjei — Jimmy Vesey wristed this one past Bishop to give the Blueshirts a commanding 3-0 lead:

The Rangers wonderboy, Jimmy Vesey, collects his fifth of the year. #NYR score three in 2:19 span against Bolts. #Vesey pic.twitter.com/6fAlcEecwN

— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 31, 2016

New York sailed from there. J.T. Miller picked up the Rangers fourth goal of the second frame on a rebound started by Kevin Hayes:

???? pic.twitter.com/wRmgtPs8v4

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2016

Grabner finished the trick in the third period with two more, including the Ranger fifth-goal of the night:

? X 5 pic.twitter.com/wW552iU7YY

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2016

Antti Raanta stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced on the night. If not for a late Steven Stamkos goal, a shutout would have called his name.

Hayes finished with three assists, along with the second-period goal, Miller added two assists and Nash also picked up a helper in addition to his breakaway goal.

Next up for the hot Blueshirts will be the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night in Manhattan.

.@grabs40's hat trick leads #NYR to a 6-1 win over Tampa Bay @TheGarden!!! pic.twitter.com/8rcsyM9wXZ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2016

??? @grabs40!!!! pic.twitter.com/vWxh4Hk7ZB

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2016

4 #NYR goals in the 2nd period!! ???? pic.twitter.com/myRDIMdoPO

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2016