With the Presidents’ Trophy clinched, the New York Rangers are reportedly giving three of their top players -- Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello, and Marc Staal -- the night off tonight.
That’s great news for the Rangers’ opponents, the playoff-hopeful Ottawa Senators, and not-so-great news for the teams the Sens are chasing, like the Bruins and Penguins.
Boston, tied in points with Ottawa but holder of the ROW tie-breaker, plays in Florida tonight. Pittsburgh, just one point up, hosts the Islanders tomorrow.
The Red Wings and Islanders are the two other teams that have yet to clinch playoff spots in the East. Detroit, with a two-point cushion, is in Montreal tonight.
Ryan Bourque, Rangers' 2009 third-rounder, presumably will make NHL debut tonight v. Senators after recall from Wolf Pack. Summers also up.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) April 9, 2015
"It's not realistic for our desperation to match theirs," says Rangers D Dan Boyle. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 9, 2015
Update:
"Not resting anybody. If guys aren't playing they've got injuries," says Vigneault. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 9, 2015
Related: Breaking down the East bubble after Boston’s big loss