Mika Zibanejad netted two goals and Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves as the New York Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in their regular-season finale. Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider also scored for the Rangers, who missed the playoffs after clinching the Presidents’ Trophy last season.
The Lightning, who finished with 47 wins and 102 points, will face the Florida Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Trocheck notched his 26th goal of the season, with the Rangers leading the NHL with 18 short-handed goals. Kreider and Zibanejad added to the scoreline in the third period.
Shesterkin secured his sixth shutout of the season, ending with a 27-29-5 record, while Lightning goalie Jonas Johansson made 19 saves. The Rangers honored broadcaster Sam Rosen, who retired after 40 years as the team's TV play-by-play voice, with players wearing special jerseys during warmups. Tampa Bay, with a history of postseason success, has made eight straight playoff appearances and leads the league in postseason games and wins since 2014-15, securing back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.