Rangers vs. Lightning: 3 things to watch for in season finale to close miserable chapter
The curtain comes down on the New York Rangers season Thursday, an off-Broadway performance that unfortunately played out under the bright lights of Broadway through 82 games this season.
The Rangers (38-36-7) will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden, after failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years.
Vincent Trocheck said earlier in the week that the Rangers are playing for one thing, “pride.” Though it’s hard to justify that comment when there’s far more reason to question this group’s pride, compete and effort during a simply miserable season.
They did put forth a representative effort Monday, rallying from 3-1 down to score four unanswered goals in a 5-3 win in South Florida against the Panthers. It was their first meaningless game without any standings implications since the end of the 2020-21 season, but they played hard and with resolve.
It was also their first win when trailing by multiple goals this season.
But all of this will soon be in the past and the Rangers will turn the page to next season as quickly as possible.
First, they have the Lightning, who finished second in the Atlantic Division and will have home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs against the Panthers. They defeated the Panthers 5-1 on Tuesday and are 7-3-1 in their past 11 games. They’ve made the playoffs eight straight seasons, which included consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.
Yes, that’s an organization to model yourself after. And worth noting that after losing in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final, the Lightning missed the playoffs the next season. Sound familiar? They haven’t missed the postseason since.
The Rangers have been outscored 11-3 in losing twice to the Lightning this season. The Lightning skated out of The Garden with a 5-1 win just 10 days ago.
Related: Rangers ‘need to choose right road’ against Lightning in season finale
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Lightning
1. Time for goodbyes
With so much uncertainty heading into the offseason, there could be a slew of farewells — whether we’re aware of it or not — Thursday at The Garden. This very well could be the last time Chris Kreider wears the Blueshirt. Mika Zibanjejad? Well, no-move clause or not, perhaps this is his Rangers swan song, too. From kids to veterans, very few Rangers are assured of being back next season.
Then there’s Peter Laviolette and his coaching staff. Laviolette said earlier in the week that he’s “not naive” and is well aware he could be canned once the season is over.
We do know that this will be Sam Rosen’s final broadcast as voice of the Rangers on MSG Network. Damn shame that his 40th and final season behind the mic didn’t end with some kind of postseason run. You can bet he’ll be shown on the big screen at MSG and will receive the loudest ovation of the night.
2. Another dark cloud
A dark cloud continues to follow the Rangers. One day after being named the Rangers Good Guy Award winner by the media, Artemi Panarin’s name surfaced in a sexual assault allegation dating to December of 2023. Reportedly, he and MSG Sports each reached separate financial settlements with a former Rangers employee this past August.
That certainly puts a damper on his Rangers tenure and overall reputation.
Panarin was also named Rangers MVP as voted by the media Wednesday. It’s not as big a deal as being in the Hart Trophy conversation like he was last season, but Panarin found a way to rise above the on-ice muck on Broadway this season to remain an elite force in the NHL.
Panarin is one point shy of reaching 90 for the fifth time with the Rangers. He’s a hat trick away from 40 goals, for the second straight season. The 33-year-old has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in the past 22 games since March 2.
Laviolette wouldn’t divulge his lineup after the morning skate, so it’s unknown if Panarin will play Thursday following this troubling report.
3. Appreciate the other guy
Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL with 121 points, five ahead of Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, whose team played its final regular season game already. So, the Lightning forward will win the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s leading scorer for the second straight season. It’ll be the third time he’s won the Art Ross Trophy in his career, and this is his fifth 100-point season. He’s also the 14th player in NHL history with at least three seasons of 120 points or more.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2018-19 Hart Trophy winner is an elite player, who often is overlooked for his greatness. He’s just six points shy of 1,000 in his career, and has played 802 games.
Kucherov has six points (two goals, four assists) in two games against the Rangers this season, and 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) in 29 games all-time against the Blueshirts.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Perreault
Othmann – J.T. Miller – Zibanejad
Cuylle – Parssinen – Lafreniere
Kreider – Brodzinski –Rempe
Robertson – Fox
Miller – Borgen
Soucy – Jones
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Lightning: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning
When: Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
More About:New York Rangers News