The Rangers are back in action following Tuesday’s victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Peter Laviolette’s squad is in Tampa to square off with another member of the old Southeast Division in what could be an opening round playoff preview against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
If the 2023-24 campaign ended today, the Rangers and Lightning would meet in the first round of the playoffs. The Lightning currently occupy the Eastern Conference’s top Wild Card spot, while the Blueshirts sit atop the Metropolitan Division but behind the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers in the conference standings, meaning the top Wild Card team is Broadway bound.