The Rangers missed a wonderful alternative to tug even with the Canadiens within the Japanese Convention wild-card standings after falling to the Metropolitan Division-rival Devils, 4-0, on Saturday.
Devils ahead Timo Meier had two targets, together with a power-play aim to a break a goalless tie within the second interval. Ahead Jesper Bratt adopted with a shorthanded aim moments later to present New Jersey a 2-0 lead.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom completed with 26 saves and notched his first shutout since Oct. 30.
With the loss, New York, which has made the Japanese Convention Finals in two of the previous three seasons, moved nearer to lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2021. It entered the season tied with New Jersey for the third-best odds of profitable the Stanley Cup (+1100) and was one in all eight groups with its preseason over-under factors whole set at 100 or increased.
The Rangers (36-33-7) are two factors behind the Canadiens (36-30-9) for the convention’s closing wild-card spot. Later Saturday, Montreal performs the Flyers (31-36-9) with an opportunity to increase its lead within the standings.
Saturday’s loss continues New York’s downward skid following a scorching begin to the 2024-25 season. The Rangers have been 12-4-1 by way of their first 17 video games, however they have not recovered from a 5-16 stretch immediately thereafter that left them at 17-20-1.
4 of their closing six video games are towards groups headed to the playoffs, together with two towards the Lightning (44-26-5, fourth in Japanese Convention), and one every towards the Panthers (44-27-4, fifth in Japanese Convention) and Hurricanes (46-25-4, second in Japanese Convention).
With a frightening slate forward, Saturday marked one in all New York’s closing probabilities of climbing again into the playoff image. Now, its season is on life assist.
