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Back at Madison Square Garden with a chance to set a season-high four-game winning streak, the Rangers again looked lost on their home ice, like a team on a never-ending penalty kill, getting outplayed and outworked by the Lightning — and outshot 35-11 — in a dispiriting 4-1 loss Saturday afternoon.

“There was no urgency,” captain J.T. Miller said. “We dipped our toe into the game. We got outplayed basically the whole time. It’s unacceptable.

“It’s not nearly good enough at home. For some reason, we were very content with not bringing our ‘A’ game. It’s disappointing and it starts with me. I gotta be better and lead better. We can’t have this anymore.”

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) defends the net against Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the second period when the New York Rangers played the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

While Tampa Bay (16-7-2) claimed its seventh straight win — and payback for a 7-3 loss to the Blueshirts on Nov. 12 — the Rangers (13-12-2) added another embarrassing chapter at the Garden, where they have produced the worst start in franchise history (2-8-1), being held to one goal or fewer in eight games.

On the road, the Rangers own an NHL-best 11 wins, while averaging 3.43 goals per game.

At home, they average 1.7 goals per game.

After a road-heavy start to the season, the Rangers will play six of their next eight games at home.

That stretch may also begin without star defenseman Adam Fox, who went to the locker room in the third period and didn’t return after suffering an apparent injury to his left arm, following a hit into the boards from Brandon Hagel.

The Rangers could not break through against a team without three of its top defensemen (Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak) or test backup goaltender Jonas Johansson, opening the game by going nearly 10 minutes without putting a shot on net.

Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save on a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The Lightning were credited with the game’s first nine shots, and 17 of the first 18 shot attempts.

The Rangers were credited with two shots through one period.

Through 31 minutes, the Rangers had put four shots on net.

“We got outcompeted from the drop of the puck,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “There’s gotta be a willingness and a want to be first to pucks, to embrace physicality. We knew what kind of game that was gonna be. … I don’t think we had the wherewithal to match the intensity. I just felt like we lost puck battles all over the rink and it’s hard to establish any game that you want to play if you don’t win puck battles.”

New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) celebrates with center Mika Zibanejad (93), and left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It would have been a massacre if not for Igor Shesterkin (31 saves), who caught a bad break shortly after the Garden’s sarcastic cheer for the Rangers’ first shot on net midway through the period.

Only when Hagel threw a puck off the skate of Carson Soucy did the scoreboard begin telling the truth, as the Lightning took a 1-0 lead with 9:07 left in the period.

Midway through the second period, Hagel earned another goal after he was stopped but collected his own rebound and lifted the puck past Shesterkin.

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Despite being dominated, the Rangers remained close, scoring on Fox’s cross-ice pass to Miller, who tapped in his seventh goal of the season with 2:29 left in the second period. The Rangers seemingly had momentum after killing a penalty to open the third period, but the Lightning struck right after it ended, when Nikita Kucherov found Nick Paul in front to take a 3-1 lead.

“At no point in that game were we deserving of winning,” Miller said. “Shesty does everything to keep it close.”

Every chance that followed was accompanied by groans, until Jake Guentzel added an empty-net goal in the final minutes.

Then came the boos.

“I wish we had the answer,” Mika Zibanejad said of the team’s home struggles. “We just have to find a way. I understand the reaction from our fans. We’re more frustrated than they are.”