Two teams without much left in the way of playoff hopes take to the ice on Thursday night, when the Chicago Blackhawks travel east to the Big Apple to face the New York Rangers.
But no playoff hopes were part of the plan for the Rangers, who’ve been publicly stating that they’re in a rebuild, with Madison Square Garden Company CEO James Dolan reiterating that point in comments to the New York Post last week. On the ice, the Rangers have complied with that part of the plan, ranking 24th in the league with goals scored (124) and 26th in goals against (159), amassing just 45 points in 46 games thus far.