New York’s Mika Zibanejad ripped a game-winning, power-play goal with 16 seconds left in regulation as the visiting Rangers shocked Tampa Bay 2-1 to complete a season sweep of the Lightning on Saturday night.
From the left circle, Zibanejad one-timed a cross-ice pass from Artemi Panarin for his third game-winning marker against the Lightning this season.
He scored the only goal in the shootout in a 4-3 win in Tampa on Dec. 31. He then posted a hat trick in a 4-0 win two days later against the Lightning in New York.
Saturday’s goal was his 25th this season and 13th on the power play. New York went 1-for-6 on the man advantage.
Jacob Trouba tied his career-high with his 10th goal, and Igor Shesterkin (30-8-3) stopped 28 of 29 shots for the Rangers, who swept the season series from Tampa Bay for the first time since 2012-13.
Brayden Point scored on the power play, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for the Lightning, who were 0-2-1 against the Rangers.
Left winger Brandon Hagel — acquired Friday in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks — arrived in time for his Lightning debut. He skated on the third line with center Ross Colton and right winger Mathieu Joseph.
Sporting the Stadium Series jerseys they wore outdoors in Nashville in last month’s 3-2 win over the Predators, the Lightning’s efficiency on special teams was evident early in the match.
Their penalty-kill unit worked its prowess after a delay of game infraction at 5:50, then the power-play group put the home side up nearly 10 minutes later.
With Patrik Nemeth off for tripping Joseph, Victor Hedman fired a shot from the point, and the puck fell beneath Shesterkin, unaware of its presence.
However, the whistle didn’t blow with the puck out of sight, and Point leaped in and jabbed it home for his 23rd tally and a 1-0 lead.
At 9:25 of the second, New York leveled the game at 1-all when a long shot by Alexis Lafreniere was gathered by Trouba, who deposited his 10th goal. He matched the number he netted in his rookie season in 2013-14.
Tampa Bay challenged for goalie interference on Dryden Hunt on the goal, but it was upheld. The Lightning were assessed a delay of game penalty but were effective again playing a man down.
–Field Level Media
