Look at us, we made it: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning Game Preview

Game Eighty-Two : New York Rangers (33-39-9) at Tampa Bay Lightning (50-25-6)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa – The site of Wayne Gretzky’s final All-Star Game (he had a goal and an assist). Question – who was the Lightning’s All-Star that season?

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, MSG, TVAS2, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -115

Know the Opponents: Blue Shirt Banter

Look at that. We’ve made it to the end of the season. It took 82 games, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are finally playing in a game that means absolutely nothing to them. They are locked into the second seed of the Atlantic Division and neither a win or a loss will change that fact. Their opponent for the night, the New York Rangers, are playing for pride. With a loss they can hold onto the third spot of the draft lottery. Should they find a way to squeeze a point or two out of the game, Calgary could drop lower than them.

So, yeah. Not much at stake tonight.

Still, the Lightning aren’t done. There are plenty of more games to be played (well, at least four) starting on the weekend (probably Sunday) as the playoffs start. They are in the unenviable position of needing to make sure they’re locked into the type of habits that succeed in the playoffs while also not wanting to get anyone hurt on the eve of the fun part of the season.

The lines at practice yesterday reflected that dichotomy:

#GoBolts combos this afternoon: Goncalves-Cirelli-Kucherov Guentzel-Point-Perry Girgensons-Gourde-Paul Bjorkstrand-Geekie-Sabourin/James Moser-Raddysh D’Astous-Lilleberg McDonagh-Cernak Carlile-Crozier/Santini

— Benjamin Pierce (@boltsben.bsky.social) April 14, 2026 at 11:53 AM

There was an optional morning skate on Wednesday and the Lightning announced that they had recalled Brandon Halverson from Syracuse. Andrei Vasilevskiy was on the ice for the skate, but left first so there is a chance he will play tonight. How long does he play? Well, that’s a question Coach Jon Cooper will have to answer at some point. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him split the game with Halverson (who was drafted by the Rangers).

Ben Pierce is also reporting that Max Crozier will be back in the line-up after missing 26 games with an injury. That gives Coach Cooper another option if he wants to go with an 11/7 rotation and possibly rest a couple of forwards.

Will Nikita Kucherov play? It’s possible. He’s trailing Connor McDavid by four points in the Art Ross race, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility he could put up a five-point night. After all, he has two already this season (along with seven (!) four-point games). As one of the fiercest competitors in the league, the Lightning might have to steal his skates to keep him out of a game he’s healthy enough to play.

One line that is probably going to play, and get a lot of ice time, is the Nick Paul – Yanni Gourde – Zemguer Girgensons line. They played 12:25 together against the Red Wings and the Lightning had a 12-9 edge in shot attempts and 5-1 advantage in scoring chances with an 86.11% expected goal share. Most of that ice time came against the Dylan Larkin line, which was Detroit’s top line. Could they be the trio that gets the first assignment against the Nick Suzuki line in the playoffs? Tonight could be a trial run for that possibility.

There seemed to be a little sense of relief after the win against the Red Wings on Monday. Coach Cooper was taking questions from children in the post-game presser, J.J. Moser was shirtless and asking Erik Cernak the tough questions:

After what has been a trying, but successful season, it was good to see a little levity in the clubhouse. Tonight should have a bit of a celebratory feel to it. It’s fan appreciation night, there is nothing on the line, and they can relax a little before the real stress begins.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Defense:

Goaltenders:

New York Rangers

Forwards:

Defense:

Goaltenders:

*The Lightning’s lone All-Star was Wendel Clark. Future Bolts Mark Recchi, Darryl Sydor, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Mattias Ohlund were also there. As was former Lightning Roman Hamrlik, who had been traded to Edmonton a couple of seasons earlier.