New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Match Player Stats On Dec 31, 2021

Mika Zibanejad fired in the only goal in the shootout as the New York Rangers won 4-3 over the host Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

In the shootout's bottom of the third round, Zibanejad -- who left the game briefly after being hit in the head with a puck -- skated in slightly from the left and sent a forehander to beat Brian Elliott glove-side for the game-winning goal.

Barclay Goodrow scored twice, including a short-handed one, and Alexis Lafreniere tallied for the Rangers, who broke a two-game losing streak (1-1-1). The Lightning's 7-game home winning streak was also broken.

In his first career appearance against Tampa Bay, Igor Shesterkin (25 saves) stopped Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point to record his 40th career win in his 67th game.

Stamkos tallied on the power play and had an assist, Ross Colton scored and Corey Perry found the net with an extra skater on the ice in the game's final two minutes. Ondrej Palat recorded two helpers.

With No. 1 goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy remaining in COVID protocol, backup Elliott came out of it and stopped 20 of 23 shots for the Lightning, who were 9-2-1 in December.

Forward Pat Maroon was slotted into the starting lineup and skated in his 600th NHL game.

A night after being pasted 9-3 by Florida - their most goals surrendered since a 9-3 home blowout against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 7, 2009 - the Lightning went up 1-0 when Stamkos one-timed a pass from Hedman for his 15th goal from the top of the left circle.

While being pressured by Julien Gauthier in the second frame, Elliott sent a poor clearing attempt from behind the net right to Lafreniere, who tallied for the seventh time - unassisted -- into the unoccupied net at 5:30.

Another miscue by Elliott with the Lightning on an abbreviated power play led to the Rangers' first lead.

Given his Stanley Cup ring earlier in the day by his former team and welcomed by his ex-teammates, Goodrow slipped his fifth goal through Elliott's pads at 14:30 after the goalie's pass was stolen by Greg McKegg.

A trailing Colton took a pass from Point and tied it at 2 by whistling home his fourth goal at 17:31.

Down 3-2 after Goodrow's second goal with 6:25 left in regulation, the Lightning pulled Elliott with 2:25 left and Perry evened it at 3 just 28 seconds later.

--Field Level Media