Rangers enter matchup against the Lightning on losing streak

The New York Rangers are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Florida, as they attempt to break a three-game losing streak. The Lightning, with a strong home record of 26-13-1, have been performing well overall this season, boasting a 50-25-6 record. They have shown particular strength in games where their opponents incur more penalty minutes. The Rangers, with a 19-19-2 road record, have struggled in close games, holding an 8-12-8 record in one-goal matches. This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season, with the Lightning having won the last encounter 4-1. Key players include Nikita Kucherov for the Lightning and Mika Zibanejad for the Rangers. Both teams have been dealing with injuries, which could impact their performance. QUESTION: How might the outcome of this game influence the morale and future performance of the New York Rangers?