NEW YORK -- Bring on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Detroit Red Wings head into the playoffs for a 25th consecutive season, an accomplishment secured Saturday afternoon not by them, as they lost 3-2 to the New York Rangers at Madison Squared Garden. Simultaneously, however, the Bruins lost to Ottawa, 6-1, which secured third place in the Atlantic Division for the Wings.
The Wings came out with an uninspired start, and then were thwarted by backup goaltender Antti Raanta, who stopped 31 shots.
Riley Sheahan tipped Pavel Datsyuk's shot to score in the second period and Justin Abdelkader tipped a shot to make it a one-goal game with 1:34 left in regulation after the Rangers scored twice in three minutes.