Rangers host Senators with everything on the line
The New York Rangers are primed and ready to play their final regular-season game of the 2023-24 season. On Monday, they will host the Ottawa Senators with everything on the line.
Usually, the last game of the season is about fine tuning a few things before the playoffs start. In some cases, you rest a player or three in order to have them fresh for a Stanley Cup grind. However, the Blueshirts can lock up not only the Metropolitan Division with a win, but also the Eastern Conference and Presidents’ Trophy.
This past Saturday, the Rangers halted a two-game skid by beating the New York Islanders 3-2 in a shootout. Artemi Panarin tied the game in the third period with his 48th goal of the season, and Igor Shesterkin was brilliant making 34 stops, including a penalty shot save.
“It was probably a half dozen key saves at 2 to 1 that kept it that way,” coach Peter Laviolette said of his goalie. “The guys kept pushing, eventually tying it up and taking it to overtime.”
The victory set a franchise record for single-season wins at 54, surpassing the 2014-15 squad’s 53 mark. If the Rangers can get the two points up for grabs, they will also beat that team’s franchise record for points (113).
Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:
New York Rangers (54-23-4) vs Ottawa Senators (36-40-4)
Date/Time: April 15, 2024 @ 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Madison Square Garden
TV: MSG
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Note: Subject to change, updated for each game
Related: 3 reasons why the Rangers can win the Cup
New York Rangers projected lineup
Here’s the expected lineup:
Kreider – Zibanejad – Roslovic
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Wennberg – Kakko
Vesey – Goodrow – Rempe
Lindgren – Fox
Gustafsson – Trouba
Miller – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Note: The Rangers will hold a morning skate at the MSG Training Center scheduled for 10:30 A.M. ET. Coach Peter Laviolette will address the media soon after. Check back here for updates.
New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators
The Rangers (112 points) are in a position where winning their last game of the season will lock up home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If they can pick up two points against the Senators, no team in the League can reach the 114 point benchmark.
Breaking down the races, the Carolina Hurricanes (111 points) have one game remaining against the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Tuesday. Due to holding the first tie-breaker for regulation wins (44-42), a loss by the Rangers to the Senators in overtime or a shootout, coupled by a Hurricanes win will give Carolina the Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference, and the Presidents’ Trophy.
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins (109 points) have two games remaining to close out their season. The Bruins are at the Washington Capitals on Monday, and host the Senators on Tuesday. They will need the Rangers and Hurricanes to lose and Boston must win both contests in order to take the Eastern Conference and possibly the Presidents’ Trophy.
Finally, the Dallas Stars (111 points) are the only Western Conference team in the mix for the Presidents’ Trophy. They need both the Rangers and Hurricanes to lose in order to take first overall with a win in their final game. Dallas hosts the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
“We’ve got one game left,” Laviolette said. “We’re going to work really hard and make sure we play that game properly. When that’s over, we’ll address the playoffs. We’ve got a lot of work to do and the playoffs are what we’re here for.”
The visiting Senators (76 points) are looking to play the role of spoilers. This will be the seventh straight season without any playoffs games for Ottawa, and you can expect them to be angry to close things out. They are 3-1-0 in their last four games with wins against the Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning thrown in for good measure.
New York is 29-11-0 this season at The Garden and could tie a franchise record for home wins (30) set not the 1970-71 Rangers. This is the third and final meeting of the regular season against the Senators with the series tied 1-1-0.
Upcoming Rangers Milestones
- Vincent Trocheck is 3 goals away from 200 in his career
- Kaapo Kakko is 1 game away from 300 in his career
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