Rangers misery continues with 6-2 loss to Lightning after holiday break

New York has lost three straight games and six of their past seven. The Rangers are a miserable 4-14-0 in their past 18 games. In those 14 defeats, they’ve been outscored 59-23.

Brayden Point had two goals and one assist, and Nikita Kucherov had one goal and two assists for the Lightning (20-11-2), who’ve won eight of their past 10 games. Ryan McDonagh, Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul also scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 42 saves in the win.

Shesterkin was pulled in the second period after he allowed five goals on 13 shots. Jonathan Quick finished up and allowed one goal on 12 shots.

Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers, who now have sole possession of last place in the Metropolitan Division after the Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday.

Instead of a much-needed win, the Rangers were rocked by the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 in their first game back from the NHL holiday break.

The Rangers (16-18-1) never led and were undone by poor special teams play. They allowed two power-play goals and two short-handed goals, and goalie Igor Shesterkin was pulled for the second time in his past five starts.

New York has lost three straight games and six of their past seven. The Rangers are a miserable 4-14-0 in their past 18 games. In those 14 defeats, they’ve been outscored 59-23.

Brayden Point had two goals and one assist, and Nikita Kucherov had one goal and two assists for the Lightning (20-11-2), who’ve won eight of their past 10 games. Ryan McDonagh, Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul also scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 42 saves in the win.

Shesterkin was pulled in the second period after he allowed five goals on 13 shots. Jonathan Quick finished up and allowed one goal on 12 shots.

Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers, who now have sole possession of last place in the Metropolitan Division after the Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday.