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Playoff Race Tightens as Rangers Face Must-Win Situation
The pressure couldn’t be higher for the New York Rangers as they prepare to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. With just a handful of games remaining, the Rangers (36-34-7, 79 points) sit on the outside looking in, trailing the Montreal Canadiens by at least six points for the final wild-card slot in the Eastern Conference.
It’s a painful position for a franchise that started the 2024–25 NHL season red-hot. Through November 19, New York posted a stellar 12-4-1 record, but the wheels quickly came off with a devastating 15 losses in their next 19 games. Since their season-high 10-game point streak in January, they’ve been hovering around .500 — unable to sustain momentum and struggling on both ends of the ice.
Monday night’s 5-1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning served as a microcosm of recent woes. A defensive breakdown led to three quick goals within 1:45 in the first period — a gut-punch that New York couldn’t recover from. It was the Rangers’ 11th loss of the season by four or more goals, a statistic that paints a worrying picture.
Special teams have also contributed to the collapse. Over the past 20 games, the Rangers have managed just four goals in 55 power-play chances. At the same time, they’ve surrendered eight goals in 19 power plays to opponents across just six games.
With the math and momentum against them, the Rangers need to win out and hope for a major collapse from the Canadiens or other wild-card contenders. Time, however, is not on their side.
Flyers Playing Loose but Hungry Under Interim Coach Shaw
On the other side of the ice, the Philadelphia Flyers (31-37-9, 71 points) have nothing to lose — and that’s made them a dangerous opponent. Since parting ways with John Tortorella on March 27, interim coach Brad Shaw has infused a new energy into the team. The result? A 3-1-0 record and a rejuvenated offense that’s produced 17 goals in just four games.
The Flyers came painfully close to extending their win streak to four games last Saturday, but a third-period collapse led to a 3-2 defeat at Montreal. Despite the loss and elimination from playoff contention, they’ve shown resilience, structure, and competitiveness — something that could pose problems for a desperate Rangers squad.
Young stars are emerging in Philly. Tyson Foerster has found his scoring touch with three goals since the coaching change, ending a 14-game drought. Ryan Poehling has also stepped up, notching seven goals in his past eight outings. Then there’s rookie Matvei Michkov, a bright spot in a tough season — his four goals in six games before Saturday showed glimpses of his offensive upside.
Philadelphia has shown they can thrive in a spoiler role, and with the Rangers’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Flyers would love nothing more than to tighten that thread a little further.
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Previous Meetings, Stats, and What’s at Stake
This will be the final meeting between the division rivals this season. Their last clash came on January 23, with the Rangers skating to a dominant 6-1 win at home. It was a high point in a streaky campaign, one that now seems like a distant memory.
A win on Wednesday won’t guarantee the Rangers a playoff berth — but a loss would all but end their postseason aspirations. They’ve played themselves into a corner, and now every shot, every line change, and every special teams decision could be the difference between April golf and playoff hockey.
Despite their late-season stumble, the Rangers still have stars like Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad capable of flipping a game on its head. But for that to matter, New York’s defense must hold strong, and their power play — once a weapon — must be reactivated.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is playing loose, fast, and with nothing but pride on the line — and that makes them a spoiler no team wants to face.
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