With nine games remaining and the Rangers simply playing out the string, the club may shut down banged-up right wing Jesper Fast for the remainder of the season. Fast has been dealing with an upper-body injury and the rebuilding Rangers are not in playoff contention.

"We haven't finally made a decision, but we're certainly leaning in that direction," David Quinn said Thursday. "We certainly don't want to put anybody in harm's way, and if it makes sense to shut someone down for the year, we'll do that."

The Rangers late comeback was all for naught, as the Red Wings finished them off in a 3-2 loss for the Blueshirts on Tuesday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 17:16 DET Frans Nielsen; Assists: Taro Hirose, Brian Lashoff

It's been nearly a month-long scoring drought for Chris Kreider. 

But the Rangers assistant captain has a reason behind his production issues. On Monday, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported Kreider has been has been hampered by a balky hamstring since Feb. 27, when the injury occurred during the Blueshirts' game against Tampa Bay. 

"You're going to have dips in your game," Kreider told the Post. "The season is just so long. But you have to learn how to approach them, deal with them, separate the good from the bad and put everything in perspective. And you learn as you go along. I know I learned from watching and talking to Rick Nash when he went through lulls, and his message was to simplify things and get back to the basics."

The Rangers announced on Monday that they've recalled defenseman John Gilmour and winger Vinni Lettieri from AHL Hartford.

Gilmour, who was named an AHL All-Star this season, made his NHL debut last February but has been in the minors all season. The smooth-skating 25-year-old leads the Wolf Pack with 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 66 games. He had five points in 28 NHL games last season.

Lettieri, 24, has 23 goals and 23 assists in 44 games with Hartford this season. He made his NHL debut two days before New Year's Eve in 2017. He had five points in 19 NHL games last season but has zero points in 18 games with the Rangers this season.

For the second straight season, the Rangers are enduring a post-deadline nosedive. They sealed an 0-4 road trip with a 5-2 loss to the Wild Saturday night and have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Mika Zibanejad snapped an eight-game goalless drought with his career-best 28th goal. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 42 of 46 shots. >> Box score

First period:

• 4:40 MIN Ryan Donato; Assists: Pontus Aberg
• 6:00 NYR Mika Zibanejad; Assists: Kevin Shattenkirk
• 16:05 MIN Ryan Donato; Assists: Luke Kunin, Jason Zucker

New York heads to Minnesota on a three-game losing streak and has been blown out in its last two losses, getting outscored 9-2 in defeats at Vancouver and Calgary, the latter by a 5-1 margin on Friday.

The Rangers were tied 1-1 after the opening 20 minutes against the Flames but gave up two goals in 70 seconds in the second period.

"We just weren't real dialed in defensively tonight, not only the goals that they scored, but how many times did you look up and all of a sudden, there's a 1-on-3 in front of our net," New York coach David Quinn told reporters. "We cheated the game too often tonight, very loose defensively, didn't hit anybody, didn't want to get hit and we played very slow.

It was tough sledding once again Friday night for the Rangers, who were routed by the Flames, 5-1. The Blueshirts lost all three games in Western Canada and have to play again Saturday. Matthew Tkachuk had a hand in every Calgary goal with two goals and three assists for his first career five-point game. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 27 of 32 shots as the Blueshirts lost for the ninth time in the last 10 games. >> Box score

First period:

• 10:00 CGY Johnny Gaudreau; Assists: Matthew Tkachuk
• 11:10 NYR Neal Pionk; Assists: Ryan Strome

The Rangers arrive in the Stampede City having lost eight times in nine games, although they've collected five charity points (1-3-5). New York is coming off a 4-1 defeat to the Vancouver Canucks, a loss essentially decided during a five-plus-minute stretch in the second period.

After Chris Kreider was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing, Brendan Lemieux was given a major penalty, too, for a hit to the head. The Canucks tallied three times in just over three minutes. Two goals came 11 seconds apart.

"You lose two forwards and you're completely out of sync," coach David Quinn said. "You kill (10) minutes of penalties in that period, I mean really, you're really at an incredible disadvantage. I thought we got off to a good start. I liked our pace in the first period, I really liked our energy. I thought we had a real good first period. Then it just completely unraveled in the second period."

Rangers left wing Chris Kreider was fined $5,000 for elbowing Vancouver's Elias Pettersson during Wednesday's game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Thursday. The fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.

Kreider smashed Pettersson in the face with a spinning elbow at 4:18 of the second period. He was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct. 

Despite coming back from a two-goal deficit, the Rangers lost to the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime on Monday at Rogers Place. >> Box score

First period:

• 6:08 EDM Connor McDavid (power play); Assists: Alex Chiasson, Leon Draisaitl
• 8:02 EDM Matt Benning; Assists: Leon Draisaitl, Zack Kassian

So do the Rangers.

The Blueshirts are coming off an overtime loss in Edmonton on Monday and have only two wins in their past 10 games, both against another non-contender, the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers have struggled since they amped up their rebuilding program by sending forwards Jimmy Hayes and Mats Zuccarello to Winnipeg and Dallas, respectively, at the trade deadline.

Some young Rangers, such as forward Brendan Lemieux, acquired from Winnipeg in the deal for Hayes, are seeking to earn more ice time. Meanwhile, older Rangers, such as defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, are fighting to keep their jobs.

Despite coming back from a two-goal deficit, the Rangers lost to the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime on Monday at Rogers Place. >> Box score

First period:

• 6:08 EDM Connor McDavid (power play); Assists: Alex Chiasson, Leon Draisaitl
• 8:02 EDM Matt Benning; Assists: Leon Draisaitl, Zack Kassian

After seeing their four-game win streak snapped, the Edmonton Oilers will try to rebound against the visiting New York Rangers on Monday.

Former Rangers legend Harry Howell has passed away, the team announced Sunday. He was 86. 

Howell played for the Rangers for 17 seasons, from 1952 to 1969, and played professionaly until he was 40. His best season as a Blueshirt came in 1966-67, when the Ontario native accumulated 70 points and won the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's top defenseman. 

Our #NYR family mourns the passing of Blueshirts legend and Hall of Famer Harry Howell.



Harry will always remain in our hearts and his #3 will forever grace The Garden rafters. pic.twitter.com/1rk92DaQ0A

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The Rangers took over in the third period, collecting three unanswered goals to beat the Devils, 4-2, at The Garden. >> Box score

First Period:

• 16:26 NJD Damon Severson; Assists: Kenny Agostino, Michael McLeod
• 19:49 NJD Blake Coleman (Power Play); Assists: Will Butcher, Travis Zajac

The New York Rangers are on their longest skid of the season and frustration is setting in following an array of close losses.

The Rangers attempt to halt a season-high six-game losing streak Saturday night when they host the New Jersey Devils in the third meeting of the season between the Metropolitan Division rivals.

New York is 0-2-4 since its last win two weeks ago against the Devils in a 5-2 game. Each loss has been decided by two goals or fewer with two going to overtime and two being decided in the shootout. >> Read More

The Rangers tied the game late in the third but ended up losing to Detroit in a shootout Thursday night, 3-2. The Blueshirts have lost six straight games, with four of those coming in either overtime or a shootout. Henrik Lundqvist, who made 43 saves, became the third goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 850 games with one franchise. Pavel Buchnevich scored both of the Rangers' goals. Kevin Shattenkirk was a healthy scratch. >> Box score

First period:

• 8:43 NYR Pavel Buchnevich; Assists: Brett Howden, Brendan Lemieux

The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings are doing a fine job improving their draft lottery position. But the momentum toward attaining a high pick will be slowed for one of those teams on Thursday when they face each other in Detroit.

The Rangers (27-28-11, 65 points) have lost their last five games, while the Red Wings (23-33-10, 56) carry an eight-game slide into the matchup. Both occupy the same spot in their respective divisions, with the Rangers entrenched in the seventh spot in the Metropolitan and the Red Wings seventh in the Atlantic.

They're also both coming off one-goal losses on Tuesday. The Rangers were blanked by Dallas 1-0, while the Wings lost in overtime at rival Colorado, 4-3.

NHL general managers have approved a rule proposal which states a skater must immediately go to the bench upon losing his helmet. To enforce the safety measure, a skater who loses his helmet and doesn't comply would be assessed a two-minute penalty. Skaters can currently stay on the ice if they lose a helmet.

The NHL-NHLPA Competition Committee must approve any proposed rule changes before they're passed along to the Board of Governors. 

The Rangers faced off against the Dallas Stars, who were still without former Blueshirts winger Mats Zuccarello as he continues to recover from his broken arm, but Dallas still got the best of the Rangers, topping them in a 1-0 shutout victory. >> Box score

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

• 1:16 DAL John Klingberg. Assists: Miro Heiskanen

The Rangers head to Big D after a 3-2 shootout loss at home to Washington on Sunday, the team's fourth straight defeat.

New York lost when rookie goalie Alexandar Georgiev was ruled to have thrown his stick at the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin to thwart a shot in the shootout, a rules violation that resulted in an automatic goal and, ultimately, the game-winner for Washington.

"(Ovechkin) faked the shot and I went down earlier," Georgiev explained afterward to NHL.com. "As he was moving laterally, I kind of threw my leg and my stick at the same time, instinctively. I just tried to be patient and wait. I was expecting a shot from him, and that's what happened." >> Read More

Henrik Lundqvist isn't the only Ranger having a tough time handling the trade of Mats Zuccarello.

With the Rangers in Dallas to take on the Stars Tuesday night, Zuccarello revealed that Mika Zibanejad has been in constant contact since the Norwegian was traded to the Stars on Feb. 23.

"Mika, he misses me like I was his boyfriend," Zuccarello said. "He FaceTimes me every day, so that's nice."

Most hockey fans -- even the diehards -- are likely unfamiliar with Rule 25.4. 

According to the NHL rulebook, section 25.4 indicates that, during a penalty shot, "a goal will be awarded when a goalkeeper attempts to stop a penalty shot by throwing his stick or any other object at the player taking the shot or by dislodging the goal (either deliberately or accidentally)." 

The bylaw came into play Sunday when Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin skated toward Blueshirts netminder Alexander Georgiev in the fourth round of a shootout in a 2-2 game. Georgiev tossed his stick at Washington's captain, knocking the puck away and leading to a whistle. After the officials reviewed it, the Capitals were rewarded with a goal and, subsequently, a victory. 

NEW YORK (AP) Alex Ovechkin scored in the fourth round of a shootout without putting the puck in the net, and the Washington Capitals extended their win streak to four games with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Ovechkin was skating to his right when Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev threw his stick at the puck, knocking it away from the star winger. Ovechkin was credited with the goal after a review.

Carl Hagelin and Andre Burakovsky scored in the first period for Washington, which is in a tight race with the Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Braden Holtby made 22 saves.

The Rangers led after the first period but were undone by Joel Armia, who scored a hat trick for Montreal in the Blueshirts' 4-2 home loss Friday night. Defenseman Libor Hajek played 17:35 in his NHL debut. He had two shots and took a holding-the-stick penalty in the second period.

Brendan Lemieux, who was acquired on Monday when the Rangers traded Kevin Hayes to Winnipeg, scored his first goal as a Ranger with 2:32 left. >> Box score

First period:

• 4:41 NYR Vladislav Namestnikov; Assists: Brady Skjei, Kevin Shattenkirk

Sean Avery is back and he has not missed a beat. 

No, the former Rangers winger is not returning to hockey, but he did bring back his controversial style of trash talk on Friday when he ripped Islanders fans for booing John Tavares on Thursday night. 

Avery, in a video posted on Twitter, went on an expletive-laden rant toward Islanders fans for their treatment of Tavares upon his first game back at Nassau Coliseum since leaving the team for the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency. 

Click below to watch video

The Rangers have earned at least a point in three straight games following back-to-back overtime defeats. They fell behind 2-0 and 3-1 to league-leading Tampa Bay on Wednesday, but rallied to force overtime with three second-period goals before falling in the extra session.

"If that's what we're going to do against the elite teams in the league, I like the direction we're going," Rangers coach David Quinn said.

Jimmy Vesey recorded a goal with an assist in the loss. He has one goal with two assists vs. Montreal this season.

Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves against the Lightning, but Henrik Lundqvist could return to the net on Friday. Lundqvist went 1-4-2 with a 3.16 goals-against average in February, but he made 31 saves in the November home win over the Canadiens. >> Read more

The Rangers couldn't find the overtime winner in a 4-3 loss to the Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 7:52 TBL Tyler Johnson; Assists: Nikita Kucherov, Anton Stralman
• 14:57 TBL J.T. Miller (Power Play); Assists: Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman

The New York Rangers took advantage of a seller's market and, much like last year's trade deadline, the team added numerous picks and a couple of prospects to a roster that had been void of such in recent years.

The Blueshirts made three trades over the last 72 hours and said goodbye to Adam McQuaid, Kevin Hayes and fan favorite Mats Zuccarello. As much as it may sting for the fanbase to lose these players, it is necessary for a franchise in the middle of a rebuild. In order to build it back up, it truly begins by ripping it down.

As expected, the rebuilding Rangers were busy before the NHL trade deadline passed Monday at 3 p.m., trading away Mats Zuccarello on Saturday before dealing Kevin Hayes and Adam McQuaid on Monday.

How did GM Jeff Gorton do? Here's a look at the three trades:

SEND: RW Mats Zuccarello to Dallas
RECEIVE: Conditional 2019 second-round pick, conditional 2020 third-round pick

The second-rounder can become a first-rounder if the Stars advance to the Western Conference Final this spring. The third-rounder can become a first-rounder if Zuccarello re-signs with Dallas. The Rangers retained about 30 percent of Zuccarello's remaining salary, which is essentially irrelevant with respect to evaluating the trade from the Blueshirts' perspective.

This deal seemed to be polarizing among fans, but the fact is the Rangers had to get something for the 31-year-old winger. Yes, he was a good player, a hard worker and a fan favorite. It certainly made Henrik Lundqvist emotional on Sunday, the goaltender fighting back tears and unable to answer a question about his friend being dealt away.

The Rangers' busy trade deadline continued on Monday by dealing defenseman Adam McQuaid to the Columbus Blue Jackets, per Darren Dreger of TSN. 

The Rangers received fourth and seventh-round picks in return. 

McQuaid, 32, had three goals and two assists in 36 games this season with the Rangers. 

The Rangers continued to trade away some of their assets ahead of the NHL's 3 p.m. deadline on Monday. 

After sending Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars this weekend, the Blueshirts announced that they completed a deal with the Winnipeg Jets involving Kevin Hayes. 

The Rangers traded the 26-year-old center to Winnipeg in exchange for a 2019 first-round pick, Brendan Lemieux and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft as part of the deal.

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist couldn't find the right words to describe how emotional he felt after New York traded Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars.

"It's tough," Lundqvist said after Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Washington Capitals. "He's a good friend."

The Rangers lost to the Washington Capitals 6-5 in overtime after Brady Skjei tied the game in the final minute of regulation on Sunday at Capital One Arena. >> Box score

First period:

• 0:21 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Jimmy Vesey, Mika Zibanejad
• 18:42 WAS Nicklas Backstrom; Assists: John Carlson, T.J. Oshie
• 19:03 WAS Michal Kempny; Assists: Brett Connolly, Andre Burakovsky

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

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10. Above The Rim (1994)

The Washington Capitals appeared to be running on empty as they sputtered toward the end of their season-high six-game road trip.

With under 24 hours to refuel after a grueling 12-day trek, the Capitals look to put it in gear on Sunday afternoon when they bid for their fifth straight victory versus the visiting New York Rangers.

The Capitals boasted a 6-2-1 mark in their previous nine contests and had won three of five games on the road trip before dropping a 5-2 decision to Buffalo on Saturday afternoon...

The Rangers have reportedly reached a deal with the Stars to send LW Mats Zuccarello to Dallas for one second round two conditional draft picks, per TSN's Darren Dreger. The picks are for the second and third round. 

Zuccarello, 31, was one of the Rangers being talked about around the trade deadline. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun said the Flames were also on his radar. 

Though Rangers fans may not be happy with Zuccarello traded away, he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. So the Rangers get something in return for a player they may not have signed this summer.

Zuccarello has 22 points on the season (seven goals, 15 assists) in his last 16 games. Over the season, he has 11 goals and 26 assists in 46 games...

The Rangers and Devils are both scrapping at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division but it was the Blueshirts who came out on top in a 5-2 win over the Devils. Jimmy Vesey, Ryan Strome and Chris Kreider scored three unanswered goals in the first period en route to their third win in last six games.  >> Box score

First period:

• 4:48 NYR Jimmy Vesey; Assists: Pavel Buchnevich, Tony DeAngelo
• 8:54 NYR Ryan Strome (Power Play); Assists: Chris Kreider, Pavel Buchnevich
• 14:23 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Mika Zibanejad, Jimmy Vesey

New York Rangers teammates Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello are on the trading block, with the trade deadline coming up on Monday.

The Rangers have two games before then -- Saturday afternoon at home against the New Jersey Devils, and Sunday at the Washington Capitals -- with Hayes and Zuccarello still expected to be in the lineup, for now.

"As I stand here now, guys that are on the roster will be in the lineup until I'm told differently," Rangers coach David Quinn told reporters after Friday's practice. Read More

Entering Thursday night's game, the Rangers had not yet taken the precaution of scratching any of their trade chips from the lineup as Monday's NHL trade deadline fast approaches, though they did pull Adam McQuaid during Thursday's first period. They went to such lengths last year when they were on the brink of dealing Rick Nash and Michael Grabner.

Yes, the Rangers will be sellers for the second straight season after issuing their Declaration of Reconstruction last year, a decree to rebuild the roster after years of dealing assets in attempts to make runs at the Stanley Cup. Now the goal is to acquire picks and promising young players.

Here's a look at the Rangers who could be elsewhere by 3 p.m. Monday:

The Rangers were within one after two periods, but they couldn't find the net again in a 4-1 home loss Thursday to Minnesota. Adam McQuaid, who likely will be traded before Monday's deadline, was pulled in the first period and didn't return for "precautionary" reasons. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 of 33 shots. >> Box score

First period:

• 15:04 MIN Jared Spurgeon (Power Play;) Assists: Eric Staal, Ryan Donato 

The Rangers pulled defenseman Adam McQuaid from Thursday's home game against the Wild during the first period and announced he won't return for "precautionary" reasons.

David Quinn said after the game that McQuaid had an upper-body issue and "probably could've gone back in," but the team played it safe and kept him out.

McQuaid is one of the trade chips the Rangers can cash in ahead of Monday's NHL trade deadline. McQuaid played 5:22 in the first, blocking a shot and committing a tripping penalty.

The Rangers are coming off a 2-1 victory Tuesday at Carolina, as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 43 of 44 shots. It was Lundqvist's 30th career victory against the Hurricanes in 43 games.

"I had to improvise a little bit," Lundqvist told NHL.com. "It worked. It's just a good feeling to win. That's all I want to do."

Vladislav Namestnikov snapped a 1-1 tie 6:10 into the third, and Lundqvist made 18 saves in the period. >> Read More

Connor Brickly scored his first goal with the Rangers, Vladislav Namestnikov buried a go-ahead goal in the third period while Henrik Lundqvist turned in a vintage performance with 43 saves to lead the Rangers to a 2-1 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. >> Box score

First period:

• No goals scored

Second period:

• 9:53 CAR Jordan Martinook; Assists: Dougie Hamilton, Andrei Svechnikov
• 10:40 NYR Connor Brickley; Assists: Filip Chytil, Tony DeAngelo

The Rangers (25-25-8, 58) complete a four-game road stretch with Tuesday night's game. They're 3-4-1 this month after Sunday's 6-5 loss at Pittsburgh, in which they erased a 3-1 lead before allowing three third-period goals.

"We don't quit. We keep coming," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "We have to stop digging ourselves those holes. Don't let the situation rattle you."

Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek posted a 27-save shutout of the Rangers on Feb. 8 in New York. He's coming off his second shutout of the month Saturday night when he blanked the Dallas Stars, stopping 33 shots. >> Read More

As the Rangers slog through a rebuilding season, they have chips to cash in on once again after last year's eventful trade deadline.

Chief among them is Kevin Hayes, who received only a one-year, $5.175 million deal as a restricted free agent last summer and is set for unrestricted free agency later this year. The ascending 26-year-old center could be a target for the Blue Jackets before Monday's deadline if they fail in their pursuit of Ottawa's Matt Duchene, according to Elliotte Friedman's latest 31 Thoughts column.

The Rangers made a third-period comeback, but it fell one goal short in a 6-5 loss the Penguins on Sunday afternoon. >> Box score

First period:

• 16:11 PIT Kris Letang; Assists: Sidney Crosby
• 19:20 NYR Mats Zuccarello (Power Play); Assists: Kevin Hayes, Kevin Shattenkirk

The Rangers, who were off Saturday, are nine points behind the Penguins but are 8-5-1 in their past 14 games.

New York is feeling good about a 6-2 win Friday at Buffalo, partly because of a three-goal outburst in the final four minutes to punctuate the outcome, including goals eight seconds apart by Pavel Buchnevich and Vladislav Namestnikov.

"There was a lot at stake, especially when you're this deep into the season," Rangers coach David Quinn said. >> Read More

The Rangers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Boo Nieves and Jesper Fast and never looked back, en route to a 6-2 win over the Sabres. Vladislav Namestnikov had two goals, including going back-to-back with Pavel Buchnevich within eight seconds of each other to put the game out of Buffalo's reach in the third period. >> Box score

First period:

• 4:09 NYR Boo Nieves; Assists: Brendan Smith
• 14:03 NYR Jesper Fast; Assists: Vladislav Namestnikov, Tony DeAngelo