The New York Rangers' season is as good as over. With New York being dominated in two straight games against the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning, combined with the Montreal Canadiens winning six straight games, the Blueshirts sit eight points outside of the Eastern Conference wild card spot with five games remaining.
Less than a year ago, the Rangers were two wins away from the Stanley Cup Final, and now, they are a week away from their season ending before the postseason starts.
Wednesday night, the Rangers face another team out of playoff contention in the Philadelphia Flyers (31-37-9) as both teams look to end the season on a good note. Here's a few storylines to watch:
1. One final Sam Rosen and John Davidson call
With the game on national television, TNT has brought together Sam Rosen and John Davidson for one final time. The pairing called Rangers games from 1986-2006, and with Rosen retiring at the end of the season, this will be a special night with these two in the booth.
Regardless, fans should tune in to watch Rosen and Davidson to get a sense of nostalgia.
2. Are we watching Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider's final games as a Ranger?
There's no doubt that changes are coming within the New York organization this offseason, and one of the hardest ones will be with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Both have dropped off in production, and there is a large possibility that the Blueshirts move on from both.
If that is the case, Kreider and Zibanejad have given Rangers fans so much to remember. Though this season did not go as planned, they still both hold memorable statuses in Blueshirts lore.
Kreider's number will almost certainly be in the rafters as one of the franchise's top goalscorers and leader in power play goals. As for Zibanejad, while he is not at that level, he was elite for New York for years and scored many huge goals.
How many more Zibanejad and Kreider hugs are we going to see?
3. Can the Rangers end the season on a high note?
This season will be remembered as a failure no matter how it ends. But, for the fans that root for the team every night, it would be nice to send them out with a few wins.
What are wins going to do? Probably nothing. They won't instill hope, they won't create an illusion that this year was successful and they (probably) won't propel the Rangers into the postseason.
But, it gives fans something to cheer about in what's been a miserable year for the Blueshirts.