Rangers Defeat Lightning 4-2 in Season Finale

Tye Kartye records two goals and an assist in New York's victory over Tampa Bay.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:18am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp planes of blue, orange, and white colors overlapping to create a sense of motion and intensity.A cubist interpretation of the Rangers' victory over the Lightning, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the regular-season finale.NYC Today

The New York Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in the regular-season finale for both teams on April 15, 2026. Tye Kartye led the Rangers' effort with two goals and an assist, while Mika Zibanejad also contributed a power-play goal and an assist. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rangers, who will miss the playoffs. The Lightning rested several key players but got goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry.

Why it matters

The matchup featured a clash between Slovak players Adam Sýkora of the Rangers and Erik Černák of the Lightning. The game also marked the end of the season for the Rangers, while the Lightning will advance to the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The details

Kartye provided an early 1-0 lead for the Rangers with a goal 4:02 into the game. He extended the lead to 2-0 with another goal 1:29 into the second period. The Rangers continued their momentum at 4:49 of the second when Gabe Perreault scored, assisted by Kartye, to make it 3-0. Zibanejad added a power-play goal for the Rangers. The Lightning got goals from Bjorkstrand and Perry, but their power play struggled, going 0-for-3.

  • The game was played on April 15, 2026.
  • Kartye scored the opening goal 4:02 into the first period.
  • Kartye scored his second goal 1:29 into the second period.
  • Perreault scored at 4:49 of the second period.
  • Zibanejad scored a power-play goal for the Rangers.

The players

Tye Kartye

A Rangers forward who recorded two goals and one assist in the game, marking his first multigoal and three-point game in the NHL.

Mika Zibanejad

A Rangers forward who contributed a power-play goal and an assist in the victory.

Adam Sýkora

A Rangers player who faced off against fellow Slovak Erik Černák of the Lightning.

Erik Černák

A Lightning defenseman who faced off against fellow Slovak Adam Sýkora of the Rangers.

Oliver Bjorkstrand

A Lightning forward who scored a goal in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little flat coming into this one, but the guys really stepped up and played a strong game. Tye had a great night and it was good to see us get back in the win column.”

— Gerard Gallant, Rangers Head Coach

What’s next

The New York Rangers' season has concluded, while the Tampa Bay Lightning will advance to the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they are scheduled to host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the continued development of young Rangers forward Tye Kartye, who had a breakout performance against the playoff-bound Lightning. While the Rangers missed the postseason, the team can look to build around promising players like Kartye for the future.