Shesterkin pulled, atrocious power play, and more: 3 reasons why New York Rangers lost 6-2 against Tampa Bay Lightning

The New York Rangers were pounded 6-2 by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Amalie Arena. The Rangers lost a lopsided game despite peppering Andrei Vasilevsky with 44 shots. The Rangers have now lost six of their last seven games as they continue to spiral downward.

Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck got the goals for the New York Rangers. Meanwhile, Nikita Kucherov (PPG), Ryan McDonagh (SHG), Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli (SHG), Nick Paul and Jake Guentzel (PPG) scored for the Bolts.

So, here’s a look at the three main reasons why the New York Rangers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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Three reasons why the New York Rangers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning

#3 Poor penalty kill

The New York Rangers penalty kill disappointed on Saturday night, allowing two goals. Guentzel and Kucherov got the tallies with the man advantage.

Kucherov's goal to open the scoring in the first period made the Rangers defenders look like they were stuck in molasses. The play started with the Bolts recovering the puck in their own end before a streaking Brayden Point blew past a helpless K’Andre Miller.

Point dished the puck to Kucherov who skated up the left side unimpeded. Rangers’ netminder Igor Shesterkin had no chance to stop the shot, giving the Bolts a 1-0 lead. Kucherov’s goal was a sample of the terrible night the Rangers defense had in Tampa.

#2 Atrocious power play

Like the penalty kill, the power play was atrocious. The New York Rangers went 0-for-4 with the man advantage, surrendering two shorthanded markers.

It’s debatable whether scoring on the power play would have made a significant difference for the Blue Shirts given the way the game was played. However, had the Rangers scored during the second period, the game might have swung back into New York’s favor.

In particular, a case of too many men on the ice penalty early in the second could have given the Rangers a chance to make the game 3-2. Instead, Anthony Cirelli made it 4-1.

#1 Shesterkin got pulled

In a concerning trend, Igor Shesterkin had a terrible night. He gave up five goals on 13 shots, getting pulled early in the second in favor of Jonathan Quick, who stopped 11 of 12 to stop the bleeding, but it was too little too late.

Shesterkin’s poor performances this season have raised concerns regarding his massive contract extension. Thus far, it seems as though his struggles could be a sign that something deeper is happening, but there's no indication that it may be the case.

The Rangers will hit the ice on Monday night against the Florida Panthers as a part of their Florida road trip.