The regular season finally came to an end, with the Rangers defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. With both teams resting some of their top players, the game took on the feel of a preseason contest, though the Blueshirts definitely iced a better lineup and mostly dominated play.
Trying to assess the team or identify anything of significance from this game would be a fool’s errand, but there were some standout performances. Ryan McDonagh dispelled any notion that an injury might hamper his playoff push, as he notched a goal and an assist. Jimmy Vesey also stood out in his role on the left wing of Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash, a line that figures to be kept in tact when the playoffs begin on Wednesday or Thursday night.