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