The New York Rangers endured a rough night at Madison Square Garden, falling 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa came into the game red-hot, and it showed—Brayden Point scored twice, reaching 41 goals for the season and tying Steven Stamkos for the most consecutive 40-goal seasons in Lightning history. Nikita Kucherov was electric, scoring a goal and adding two assists to bring his total to 115 points, tying him with Nathan MacKinnon for the top spot in the NHL. Jake Guentzel also contributed with three assists, while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy turned away 38 shots with ease.
Laviolette doesn’t go in the locker room after games?! pic.twitter.com/UxTJvsxQcu
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 8, 2025
Early in the game, the Rangers looked sharp, leading in shots 12-1. But a first-period scoring burst from Kucherov, Gourde, and Point in just 1 minute and 45 seconds quickly shifted the momentum. Mika Zibanejad gave the Rangers a glimmer of hope with a power-play goal in the second, but Tampa’s defense shut the door on any comeback efforts.
After the loss, Rangers fans were left disappointed, and a postgame comment from head coach Peter Laviolette only added to the frustration. When asked if he had a message for the team, Laviolette responded, “I don’t have a message right now. I don’t go into the locker room after the game.” That remark stirred strong reactions among fans, with many expressing confusion and disappointment over his lack of immediate leadership.
The response sparked a flurry of opinions online. Some defended Laviolette’s approach, saying he believes in giving players space after tough games and prefers to regroup once emotions cool. Others were critical, comparing his style to past situations where similar behavior led to coaching changes—such as Detroit’s decision to fire Derek Lalonde after a similar approach and a cold streak.
Fans debated whether Laviolette’s choice to stay silent after losses was smart or problematic. One commenter said it could be a thoughtful, composed leadership style, while another called for his firing on the spot, seeing it as a sign of poor management.
This loss came shortly after another rough game, a 4-0 shutout at the hands of the Devils. As the pressure mounts, the decision not to speak to the team immediately postgame has intensified scrutiny on Laviolette.
Still, some supporters pointed out that not all coaches address their teams right after a game and reminded everyone of Laviolette’s impressive coaching résumé. He played for the Rangers in 1988 before becoming one of the most successful American coaches in NHL history, winning a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 and leading both the Flyers and Predators to the Finals. As of March 2024, he had reached 800 career coaching wins, becoming just the eighth coach in NHL history to hit that milestone.
In the end, Laviolette’s approach might not suit everyone, but it’s part of a coaching style that has seen success. Whether it’s a misstep or a calculated move remains a hot topic among fans as the Rangers look to regroup and move forward.