Point and Kucherov lead surging Lightning to 6-2 win over reeling Rangers

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) controls the puck in front of New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates after his goal against the New York Rangers with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) stops a shot by New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Defending on the play are Tampa Bay’s Ryan McDonagh (27) and Erik Cernak (81). (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning players celebrate after their win over the New York Rangers in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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New York Rangers defenseman Will Borgen (17) dumps Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) scores past New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening (11) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) is replaced by goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) celebrates after his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with defenseman Adam Fox (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) celebrates after his goal against the New York Rangers with left wing Brandon Hagel (38) and center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) checks New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) into the boards as they vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) moves the puck around Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) skates ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

💬

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov each had a goal and two assists to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning past the reeling New York Rangers 6-2 on Saturday night.

Anthony Cirelli and Ryan McDonagh both had a short-handed goal. Jake Guentzel and Nick Paul also scored for the Lightning, who have won six of seven. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 42 saves.

Artemi Panarin had a power-play goal and Vincent Trocheck scored short-handed for New York. Igor Shesterkin allowed five goals on 13 shots before being pulled at the 8:08 mark of the second period. Jonathan Quick allowed one goal on 12 shots.

After a strong start, the Rangers are 4-14 in their past 18 games.

Tampa Bay pulled away with three goals in the second, one by Point. He has 23 this season, one behind Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl for the NHL lead.

Veteran forward Chris Kreider returned to the Rangers’ lineup after being a healthy scratch Monday against New Jersey.

Takeaways

Rangers: Shesterkin was pulled from a start for the third time this season.

Lightning: Tampa Bay captain Victor Hedman became the franchise leader in games played (1,083), surpassing Steven Stamkos. … Cirelli became the fourth Lightning player with two short-handed points in a game. He moved past Rob Zamuner for the second-most short-handed goals (15) in team history.

Key moment

The Rangers were on a power play with the game tied 1-all when McDonagh went end-to-end against his former team. He put a shot through Shesterkin at 18:11 of the first to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead after the period despite being outshot 17-6.

Key stat

The Lightning scored two short-handed goals in a game for the 10th time in franchise history and first since March 2020 against Boston.

Up next

The Rangers play at Florida on Monday in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference final. Tampa Bay hosts Montreal on Sunday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl