Face it, the New York Rangers are going nowhere this season. For all of the brave talk about learning how to win and building for next season and for all of the pleasure Ranger fans can take from hard fought losses to quality teams, if adding a half dozen points to the final season total costs the Rangers a top five pick, it will be a waste.
Tanking is a dirty word, but it can manifest itself in many ways. Thursday night the Red Wings played without Dylan Larkin and Mike Green, both out with issues that are undoubtedly real, but would have been disregarded if the Wings were in a playoff battle.