Nov 29, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) reacts after scoring a goal in the first period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
We’re going to keep things short and sweet tonight. The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Rangers, 4-1, behind a pair of goals from…wait for it…Brandon Hagel. The hottest forward on earth ran his career-best goal streak to five games and now has 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) in that stretch. Jonas Johansson wasn’t tested often, but he made the stops he needed to, stopping 12-of-13 shots for the victory.
It was a strong game from start to finish for the Bolts as they posted a 6.04 xGF effort off of 37 scoring chances and 35 shots on goal. It’s not often that a goalie gives up three goals and could be considered a star of the game, but Igor Shesterkin, making his second start in as many days, kept things close until the third period and finished with 31 saves on 34 shots against.
Hagel opened the scoring midway through the first period, and then doubled the lead with his 15th goal of the season. J.T. Miller made it a one-goal game late in the period, but Nick Paul reestablished the gap with his second of the season early in the final frame. Jake Guentzel finished off the scoring with an empty netter. Nikita Kucherov had three assists as he quietly moves up the scoring charts, as he is now tied with a host of players for seventh in the league with 32 points. Darren Raddysh also posted a three-assist night.
It’s seven wins in a row for the Bolts overall and five in a row on the road, a streak they haven’t seen since they won six in a row back in the 2019-20 season. Good for them.