Garand, Kartye lead Rangers to 4-2 win over Lightning in season finale
Dylan Garand and Tye Kartye helped the New York Rangers close out their massively disappointing centennial season with a feel-good 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday. Garand stopped 29 of 31 shots in his third NHL start, closing out the season with 13 saves in the third period. Kartye scored two goals and finished with three points, each for the first time in his four-season NHL career.
Second of the night for Tye Kartye! pic. twitter.
com/Cg0fls8xjn — Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 16, 2026 The Rangers (34-39-9) earned their 20th road victory, extending their franchise record to five consecutive seasons reaching that total. However, despite a more spirited finish to the season, the Rangers failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive year and now face a very important offseason, with their retool in full swing. Through two periods, the Rangers were out-shot 17-15 overall, and at 5v5 were out-chanced 16-8 (including a whopping 11-2 in high-danger scoring chances), and had a dismal expected goal share of 22.
88 percent, per Natural Stat Trick . Yet they led on the scoreboard 4-1, thanks, in part, to far better play between the pipes from their goaltender. Garand made three solid stops against the Lightning in the opening minutes, and the Rangers rewarded him at 4:02 when Kartye zipped a shot from the right circle short side past former Rangers draft pick Brandon Halverson to give the visitors the lead, and what turned out to be the only goal of the period.
Tye Kartye gets the scoring started for the @NYRangers ! 🗽 pic. twitter.
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