Rangers' Artemi Panarin gets hat trick in win over Lightning
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) breaks around Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
TAMPA, Fla. — It’s as if these Rangers take losses personally.
Twenty-four hours after dropping a tight one in Sunrise, Florida, the Rangers did what they have done so well this season: They bounced back and won the next one, traveling across the Sunshine State to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-1, at Amalie Arena on Saturday night in their final game of calendar year 2023.
Artemi Panarin had his second hat trick of the season, Vincent Trocheck had a goal and three assists and Igor Shesterkin, celebrating his 28th birthday, made 34 saves to earn his fifth straight win for the Rangers (25-9-1), who improved to 9-1 in games following losses and 6-0 in the second game of back-to-back sets.
“We just focus on that,’’ Panarin said of the Rangers’ ability to bounce back after losses. “The whole team or organization is just not used to losing two games in a row.’’
“I think we all thought that we gave an honest effort last night [in a 4-3 loss to Florida]; we still lost the game,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said. “And for them to go out and play as hard as they did tonight was — I think that’s really good and gets us back on the winning side of things.’’
The Rangers got on the board at 1:51 of the first period. Trocheck won a race with Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman to capture a loose puck at the Lightning blue line, and when Hedman fell down, that left Trocheck and Panarin on a two-on-none break. Trocheck fed Panarin for a one-timer and his 21st goal of the season.
Trocheck made it 2-0 when he jammed in the rebound of Jacob Trouba’s shot at 7:36. The Rangers dominated the first period despite a misleading 14-9 Lightning edge in shots on goal.
Tampa Bay got on the board on a power-play goal by Nikita Kucherov at 17:39 of the second period, but Trocheck set up Chris Kreider for his 18th goal and a 3-1 lead at 18:30.
Panarin scored his second goal at 11:16 of the third period and added a power-play goal with 4:34 left in regulation.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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