3 least impressive New York Rangers players from 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay Lightning feat. Igor Shesterkin

The New York Rangers entered the much-needed holiday break having lost 10 of their last 14 games and sliding below the .500 mark for the first time this season after Monday’s 5-0 loss to the rival New Jersey Devils.

But rather than turn over a new leaf with the brief break in the schedule, they continued to crater with an abysmal showing against the rival Tampa Bay Lightning, losing 6-2 at Amalie Arena on Saturday night.

The New York Rangers, who won the President’s Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team in 2023-24, are now 16-18-1 after having initially started the season 12-4.

A pair of Russian snipers traded goals in the first period, as Nikita Kucherov struck for the Lightning only to have Artemi Panarin respond for the Rangers, knotting the score.

But former Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh took advantage of a defensive miscue by his old club and scored shorthanded late in the first period, giving the Bolts a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The continued in the game’s middle frame, as Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Jake Guentzel increased Tampa’s lead to 5-1.

While Vincent Trocheck cut into the lead with a power-play goal just 13 seconds into the third period, it was as close as the Rangers would get. Nick Paul capped the scoring at 14:12 with his ninth goal.

It was a porous night for Igor Shesterkin, who was yanked for the second time in his last five games after allowing five goals on just 13 shots. Meanwhile, Andrei Vasilevskiy was far busier, making 42 saves in a winning effort.

3 least impressive New York Rangers players from 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay Lightning

#1. Igor Shesterkin

Since signing the richest contract in NHL history for a goaltender, Shesterkin and the rest of his teammates have been shaky at best.

But his outing on Saturday against the Lightning was particularly tough. He was pulled after a poor performance in which he posted a .615 save percentage, and his record now sits at 11-14-1 with a 3.06 goals-against average.

#2. Chris Kreider

The veteran New York Rangers forward returned to the lineup after being designated a healthy scratch by head coach Peter Laviolette during Monday’s game against the Devils.

His first game back since the controversial lineup decision didn’t go well. His whiff on the puck in the first period directly led to a shorthanded 3-on-1 opportunity for the Bolts, which resulted in McDonagh’s goal.

Despite putting six shots on Vasilevskiy, he also finished with a minus-3 rating.

#3. K'Andre Miller

The New York Rangers defenseman, who had missed the last several games with an injury, didn’t have a good return to action.

In fact, the game’s first goal occurred after Brayden Point breezed by him and opened a 2-on-1 rush, resulting in a perfect pass to Kucherov, who beat Shesterkin.

Miller immediately swatted the puck away in disgust.