#NYR win 3-2 to close out the regular season schedule!!! See you in the playoffs next week!! pic.twitter.com/Tn2EJH4BDN
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 9, 2016
In game 82 of the regular season, Antti Raanta and the New York Rangers defeat the hungry Detroit Red Wings by a final of 3-2 at MSG.
- New York Rangers 3 (46-27-9, 101 pts)
- Detroit Red Wings 2 (41-30-11, 93 pts)
- NHL, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
The feeling was strange all afternoon among fans at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon.
They wondered, pondered whether it was best for their beloved New York Rangers to end the regular season on a high-note, or lose and secure themselves a date with the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Although that mood remained strange for most of the game, the third period brought something else to the table.
The Rangers did, indeed, earn two points against the hungry Detroit Red Wings (who were looking to secure a playoff spot of their own) by a final of 3-1.
Two of the much “focused-on” defensemen on this Rangers roster turned out solid days.
First was Dan Boyle, who tallied the Blueshirts first goal of the game 16:24 into the first period:
#NYR ahead after one thanks to Boyle's 10th of the season! pic.twitter.com/W1qlALpLlv
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 9, 2016
The second period was owned mostly by Detroit. They out-shot New York 16-7 and scored on a fluky shot from the point. It was Ryan Sheahan’s 14th of the season, coming via the power-play:
The @DetroitRedWings don't care how they go in. Huge third coming up. #DETvsNYRhttps://t.co/At7cBsTSSv
— NHL (@NHL) April 9, 2016
Thanks to the game being knotted in the third period, that strange feeling in the MSG air carried its way throughout. That was, until, New York started to breathe life into the air.
With the Wings scrapping their way on every shift, Antti Raanta, who started in place of Henrik Lundqvist, stood tall. So did the Rangers young defenders, Brady Skjei and Dylan McIlrath.
Speaking of McIlrath, just past the midway point of the third period, Dylan Larkin found his way into open ice with the puck. Looking to take advantage of the slower defender, he tried to gain the corner.
McIlrath wasn’t having any of it and made one of the more solid defensive open-ice plays you’ll lay eyes on.
That's a hell of a play against the fastest guy in the league. #NYR pic.twitter.com/cfvXF2GmC5
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 9, 2016
https://vine.co/v/iTmgK6Uxxrb
With Sam Rosen overly-excited in the booth, this seemed to be the turning point in the game. The Rangers seized momentum and just a few minutes later made sure to capitalize on it.
Kevin Hayes collected his 14th of the season as he deflected a McIlrath point shot:
#NYR take a 2-1 lead thanks to McIlrath and Hayes. pic.twitter.com/siEQUeRIoa
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 9, 2016
.@KevinPHayes12 gets a piece of @dylan_mcilrath shot to put #NYR up one!! pic.twitter.com/mGaQmjxSpz
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 9, 2016
An empty-netter from Oscar Lindberg and a late Detroit goal rounded out the score on the afternoon.
New York finishes the regular season with a record of 46-27-9, for 101 points which will either be good for third place in the Metropolitan Division or a No. 1 Wild Card spot (depending on what the New York Islanders do in their final two games).
Should the Isles surpass the Rangers, it’ll be off to Florida to take on the Panthers. If the Rangers stay ahead of the Islanders, they’ll head to the Igloo for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sitting out of this contest, aside from Lundqvist, was Ryan McDonagh (whose status for the playoffs is still uncertain), Dan Girardi, Mats Zuccarello, and Viktor Stalberg. The latter three are all expected to be ready for Round 1.
Of course, the Bluehsirts continued their final home game tradition of “Blueshirts off our backs” after the contest:
#NYR Blueshirts Off Our Backs!! We Salute You Fans!! #LGR pic.twitter.com/m3EleAljdv
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 9, 2016
Despite the loss, the Wings still clinched a playoff spot due to the Boston Bruins loss on Saturday.
That's a wrap on the #NYR 2015-16 regular season. pic.twitter.com/x8VDyBdXrE
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 9, 2016