After a long, difficult ride, the 2018-2019 NHL regular season has officially come to an end for the New York Rangers. How did the last few games of the campaign pan out for them?
Record for last week of the season:
4-2 L @ NJD
4-1 L vs. OTT
3-2 SOL vs. CBJ
4-3 OTW @ PIT
Record for the 2018-2019 season: 32-36-14 (78 points)
Standings for the 2018-2019 season:
26th overall in the NHL
12th in the Eastern Conference
Seventh in the Metropolitan Division
During the last week of the NHL regular season, it was unclear what the New York Rangers were playing for. They were clearly at the bottom of the league, but they still had a group of players enjoying personal success.
Would they have to “tank” for a better draft pick? Would young players try to make a final push for a roster spot next year?
Fortunately, the team and fans got the best of both worlds. The Rangers lost all but one of their final four games.
Two were in regulation against the Devils and Senators, and one in a shootout in the final home game of the year versus the Blue Jackets. Despite the overtime win against the Penguins, the Rangers were still able to obtain the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
In the 4-2 loss to New Jersey, the Rangers’ goals were scored by Brett Howden from Connor Brickley and Neal Pionk and Filip Chytil from Vinni Lettieri and Tony DeAngelo. While falling 4-1 to Ottawa, the lone New York goal was notched by Lias Andersson from Vladislav Namestnikov and Brendan Smith.
In the thrilling shootout loss to Columbus, The Rangers’ goals were courtesy of Chris Kreider from Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich from Zibanejad and Ryan Strome. In the last game of the season, the final Rangers’ goals of 2018-2019 were scored by Smith, Brady Skjei from Kevin Shattenkirk, Namestnikov from Pionk, and Strome from Namestnikov.