PAVEL DOROFEYEV

Shesterkin Steals the Night, Rangers Finish in Style

Dorofeyev and Zibanejad bury their looks while Tampa hits iron and leaves MSG empty-handed.

The Rangers didn’t have the puck more — they had the finish, and they had Igor Shesterkin. New York won 5-1 while the Lightning carried the push and created the better looks overall; Tampa’s chances added up to about 3.56 expected goals — more than New York’s — but they couldn’t cash.

Shesterkin slammed that window shut, stopping 24 of 25 and beating the math by +1.92 goals saved above expected. At the other end, Andrei Vasilevskiy gave up four on 24 shots, and New York’s finishers did the rest: Pavel Dorofeyev and Mika Zibanejad each posted a goal and an assist, while Adam Fox fed two.

This wasn’t just bounces, though there were some: two pings off the frame — one each from Dorofeyev and Will Cuylle — hinted at a closer game. Tampa had the attempt edge and seven power plays but went 0-for-7, while New York turned fewer looks into better results. The box score screams blowout; the tape says goaltending and finishing made it so.