The Tampa Bay Lightning (0-0-0) visit the New York Rangers (0-1) during Thursday's NHL schedule, starting at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden and broadcast on ESPN+.
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Lightning vs. Rangers: Oct. 1 Viewing Options
- Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: New York City, New York
- Venue: Madison Square Garden
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.49 | 4th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.79 | 3rd |
| Shots | 28 | 14th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.6 | 9th |
| Power Play % | 20.33% | 17th |
| Penalty Kill % | 82.56% | 3rd |
Rangers' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 2.87 | 23rd |
| Goals Allowed | 3.04 | 15th |
| Shots | 25 | 31st |
| Shots Allowed | 28.7 | 22nd |
| Power Play % | 24.65% | 5th |
| Penalty Kill % | 79.92% | 15th |
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Lightning vs. Rangers Top Players
Lightning
- Nikita Kucherov was among Tampa Bay's leading contributors a season ago, totaling 130 points. He averaged 0.5 goals per game, shooting 19.2%.
- Jake Guentzel was another of Tampa Bay's top contributors last season, tallying 88 total points (38 goals and 50 assists).
- In 71 games a season ago, Brandon Hagel proved to be another option for Tampa Bay. He posted 74 points on the year (36 goals and 38 assists).
- In 58 games played last season, Andrei Vasilevskiy (39-15-4) surrendered 132 goals.
Rangers
- Mika Zibanejad scored 34 goals (0.4 per game) and put up 44 assists (0.5 per game) last season, fueling the New York offense with 78 total points (1.0 per game). He averaged 2.6 shots per game, shooting 15.8%.
- Pavel Dorofeyev racked up 64 points last season, with 37 goals and 27 assists.
- Alexis Lafreniere scored 24 goals last season, and 33 assists.
- Igor Shesterkin was 25-19-6 last season, conceding 126 goals (2.5 goals against average) with a .911 save percentage (seventh-best in the league).
Lightning vs. Rangers Injury Report
Lightning
Dominic James: Out (Hand),
Yanni Gourde: Out (Hip)
Rangers
Adam Sykora: Out (Lower Body),
Aidan Thompson: Out (Lower Body),
Joonas Korpisalo: Out (Lower Body)
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Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1/2026 | Rangers | - | Away |
| 10/3/2026 | Capitals | - | Home |
| 10/5/2026 | Flyers | - | Home |
| 10/8/2026 | Wild | - | Home |
Rangers' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/29/2026 | Bruins | L 3-0 | Away |
| 10/1/2026 | Lightning | - | Home |
| 10/2/2026 | Red Wings | - | Away |
| 10/4/2026 | Mammoth | - | Home |
| 10/6/2026 | Islanders | - | Home |