The New York Rangers made it a point to load up on forwards this summer, and it’s been paying off nicely. Sunday might have been the best display of that strength.
Despite getting Nikita Kucherov and Ryan Callahan back, the Tampa Bay Lightning had no answer for the Rangers’ arsenal as New York won 6-1.
That included Michael Grabner generating the third hat trick of his career and his first trio since Feb. 2011.
Naturally with such a lopsided game, Grabner wasn’t the only Rangers forward who stood out. Linemates J.T. Miller (one goal, two assists) and Kevin Hayes (three assists) got in on the fun, Jimmy Vesey scored yet another goal and Rick Nash enjoyed a one-goal, one-assist night.
It’s a harsh way to emphasize the tough stretch Tampa Bay is enduring.
Ben Bishop: "A tough little rut we're going through right now, but we've just got to turn the page. You can't sit here and sulk." #Bolts
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) October 31, 2016