What we learned from a one-sided 4-0 loss by the New York Rangers

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ARyan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers is injured as he checks Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders (Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports) /

The New York Rangers were taught a lesson by the Islanders, losing 4-0 in a game that was billed as the biggest game of the year. While it would be easy to say that the Rangers didn’t show up, the fact is that they did show up and their flaws were exposed for all to see.

Lets’ get the ugly news out of the way, the playoff hunt. All eight East Division teams were in action on Thursday.

Here’s where we stand:

Thursday’s results

Islanders 4, Rangers 0
Bruins 5, Sabres 2
Penguins 5, Capitals 4 (overtime)
Devils 5, Flyers 3

Standings               GP      W-L-OTL        PTS            ROW
1- √Pittsburgh     51 33-15-3       69 points      30
2- √Washington     50     32-13-5    69 points    29
3- Islanders         50     30-15-5    65 points 26
4- Boston            49    29-14-6    64 points    25
5- Rangers        51 26-19-6    58 points      25
6–Philadelphia * 50 22-21-7    51 points     19
7- New Jersey *    50    16-27-7    39 points      16
8- Buffalo*             51    13-31-7       33 points      10

√ Clinched playoff spot
* Eliminated from the playoffs

The Flyers were eliminated and the Rangers dropped six points behind Boston and seven points behind the Islanders. If the Rangers win all five of their remaining games, the Islanders will have to get four points out of their last 12 to beat them. The Bruins will need to get five of their last 14 points to eliminate the Rangers.

If the Islanders beat the Rangers on Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum, the best the Blueshirts could hope for is for the Bruins to lose all of the remaining games. Face it, it’s not going to happen.

If you missed the game, here is a video recap, let’s not call it highlights.

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