– I don’t know how the old year could end in a better way, says Artemi Panarin, who scored a hat trick according to AP.
The last time they were first to reach 50 points was in 1993-1994 when they won their last Stanley Cup.
Mika Zibanejad was involved in Panarin’s closing 5-1 goal and has now scored in ten consecutive games.
Panarin was widely praised afterwards.
“Getting better all the time”
– It sounds crazy, but somehow it’s like he continues to develop and gets better all the time, praises chainmate Vincent Trocheck.
In goal, Igor Shesterkin saved 34 shots on his 28th birthday.
Tampa had 80 shot attempts to the Rangers’ 37.
– Of all the pucks we threw at the net and all the chances we created, we only got one puck in and it’s tough. It’s something we just have to keep doing, says Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper.
William Nylander’s 13-game scoring streak ended when his Toronto lost at home to Carolina, 2-3.
Toronto has fallen into a slump winning just one of its last six games.