For the first time in the past 14 years, the New York Rangers will participate in a meaningless regular season game when they take on the Washington Capitals in D.C. tonight. With the Devils defeating the Carolina Hurricanes last night, the Blueshirts were eliminated from playoff contention.
Without anything to play for in the short term, the Rangers will be able to focus on development of their young players over the remaining week and a half of the season. This doesn’t mean the team isn’t going to try to win. It means the young-ins will have longer leashes.