Rangers vs. Lightning: Lineups, storylines for final game of 2025-26 season
One of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory concludes Wednesday for the New York Rangers, when they close out the 2025-26 campaign against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena.
The Rangers (33-39-9) try to avoid losing 40 games for the first time in a single season since 2003-04, with an eye on winning 20 road games for the fifth straight season, a franchise record. If they do win Wednesday, the Rangers will finish with 77 points, tied for their fewest in a full non-COVID season since 2017-18.
Any way you slice it, this was a terrible season for the Rangers, their second straight out of the playoffs.
Though they’ve played better down the stretch, the Rangers come into this one on a three-game losing streak, following a 3-2 defeat in Florida against the Panthers on Monday, in Jonathan Quick’s final NHL game before retiring.
Since the Olympic break, the Rangers proved to be a streaky team. They came out of the break with points in four consecutive games (2-0-2), lost one in regulation, then won a season-high four in a row, before a six-game skid (0-5-1). The Rangers followed by winning three straight and five of six, before their current three-game losing streak.
The Lightning (50-25-6_ are anything but disappointing this season, even surpassing what many expected of them this regular season. That’s especially so considering how many injuries to key players they successfully navigated.
Tampa Bay is second in the Atlantic Division and have home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens, beginning this weekend. The Lightning are 26-13-1 on home ice this season, though it should be noted that both teams won 24 games on the road, perhaps negating any home-ice advantage.
The Lightning enter the regular-season finale with two straight wins, and a 10-4-2 record since March 17.
This is the rubber game of the season series. The Rangers hammered the Lightning 7-3 in Tampa on Nov. 12. But 17 days later, the Lightning flipped the script with a 4-1 victory at Madison Square Garden.
3 storylines when Rangers visit Lightning
1. Garand finale
Two nights after Quick’s final game, Dylan Garand gets a chance to make one more positive impression before the offseason, trying to prove to the Rangers that he’s capable of being Igor Shesterkin’s backup on Broadway next season, a role Quick had for three years.
Garand makes his third NHL start, and first since March 27, a 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at MSG. Like in his NHL debut five days earlier against the Winnipeg Jets, Garand earned First Star honors against the Blackhawks. The 23-year-old really impressed in his first two games at this level, looking poised and confident, stopping 62 of 65 shots faced. And now he gets his first road start in the NHL against a legit Stanley Cup contender, albeit one with not a thing to play for Wednesday.
2. One more lineup tweak
Taylor Raddysh draws back into the Rangers lineup for the season finale, getting the chance to play against his brother, Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh. It’ll be their first time on ice together since their father, Dwayne Raddysh, died from pancreatic cancer in March. So, you know it’ll be emotional for both Taylor and his older brother.
Taylor is pointless in two games against the Lightning, his first NHL team, but has 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 67 games this season. He was a healthy scratch in eight straight games and replaces Jonny Brodzinski in the lineup to play on the fourth line, with rookie Jaroslav Chmelar moving up to take Brodzinski’s spot on Vincent Trocheck’s line with Will Cuylle.
Darren had a breakout year with the Lightning, stepping up when star defensemen Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, and Erik Cernak were all sidelined at the same time due to injury. The 30-year-old defenseman and pending unrestricted free agent established NHL career highs already in goals (22), assists (48), points (70), power-play goals (10), and penalty minutes (71). He had three assists against the Rangers in the Lightning victory at MSG.
3. Mika mementos
Earlier Wednesday, Mika Zibanejad was named the 2025-26 Players’ Player Award winner, voted by his teammates, and team MVP, as voted by the media. Each is a deserved honor for the 32-year-old forward, who bounced back from a dismal 2024-25 campaign to be the Rangers best and most consistent player throughout this season.
Zibanejad enters the finale leading the Rangers with 33 goals, 76 points, and 15 power-play goals, which are also tied for sixth most in the League. He has just one goal in his past nine games, though assisted on six goals during that span.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Alexis Lafreniere — Mika Zibanejad — Gabe Perreault
Will Cuylle — Vincent Trocheck — Jaroslav Chmelar
Tye Kartye — J.T. Miller — Conor Sheary
Adam Sykora — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Matthew Robertson — Will Borgen
Drew Fortescue — Braden Schneider
Jonathan Quick
Igor Shesterkin
Rangers vs. Lightning: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
When: Wednesday April 15 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Benchmark International Arena
How to watch: MSG
