The Rangers missed an excellent opportunity to pull even with the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings after falling to the Metropolitan Division-rival Devils, 4-0, on Saturday.
Devils forward Timo Meier had two goals, including a power-play goal to a break a goalless tie in the second period. Forward Jesper Bratt followed with a shorthanded goal moments later to give New Jersey a 2-0 lead.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom finished with 26 saves and notched his first shutout since Oct. 30.
With the loss, New York, which has made the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the past three seasons, moved closer to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. It entered the season tied with New Jersey for the third-best odds of winning the Stanley Cup (+1100) and was one of eight teams with its preseason over-under points total set at 100 or higher.
The Rangers (36-33-7) are two points behind the Canadiens (36-30-9) for the conference’s final wild-card spot. Later Saturday, Montreal plays the Flyers (31-36-9) with a chance to extend its lead in the standings.
Saturday’s loss continues New York’s downward skid following a hot start to the 2024-25 season. The Rangers were 12-4-1 through their first 17 games, but they haven’t recovered from a 5-16 stretch directly thereafter that left them at 17-20-1.
Four of their final six games are against teams headed to the playoffs, including two against the Lightning (44-26-5, fourth in Eastern Conference), and one each against the Panthers (44-27-4, fifth in Eastern Conference) and Hurricanes (46-25-4, second in Eastern Conference).
With a daunting slate ahead, Saturday marked one of New York’s final chances of climbing back into the playoff picture. Now, its season is on life support.
