The Montreal Canadiens’ victory over the Florida Panthers has pushed the New York Rangers out of playoff contention for now. While it was tough to see the reigning Stanley Cup champions fall to Montreal, the Rangers can’t rely on outside help—they need to take control of their own fate. With the Minnesota Wild coming up later this week, the Rangers must stay focused on their own performance and not let playoff displacement distract them.
Things are looking increasingly difficult for the Blueshirts. Montreal now holds the second wild-card spot and is tied in points with the Rangers, but with a game in hand, they have the edge in the tiebreaker. If the Canadiens lose that extra game against Florida, they could drop out of the wild-card race, but for now, their hold on the spot remains tenuous.
The Rangers will need some external help, but the best way to get it is by winning their remaining games. With eight games left in the season, every point matters, and New York’s path to the playoffs will be tough. Despite a challenging season since mid-November, the Rangers still have the talent and experience to make a push. They must show that they can rise to the occasion and prove their worth before playoff hopes slip away.
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