Rangers begin road trip with loss to Kings, remain out of playoff spot

Last year’s Capitals established the eastern conference’s 82-game low-bar standard since 2005-06, when the guaranteed victory and losers’ point were introduced to the NHL, by qualifying for the final playoff spot with 91 points

But guess what? The bar might even be lowered this season.

And the Rangers may not even be able to clear that threshold.

It’s not the math that is impossible in this competition with a couple of teams that aren’t particularly good either in the Canadiens and Islanders.

It’s the Rangers’ penchant for self-sabotage.

The Blueshirts put on a representative showing on Tuesday against a Kings team that entered with a 25-3-4 record at home.

The Rangers probably had the better of the play over the final 40 minutes against the team ranked seventh-overall in the league following a scoreless first period in which the Blueshirts rarely had the puck.

But after 60 minutes, it was 3-1 with an empty-netter for the Kings. After 60 minutes, the Rangers had lost their fourth game of the last five and eighth (3-6-2) of the last 11.

After 60 minutes, the Rangers were still a point behind the Habs, which has 12 games to play against New York’s 10.

Phillip Danault scores on a power play for one of his two goals in the Rangers’ 3-1 loss to the Kings on March 25, 2025.

After 60 minutes, the Rangers were still deadlocked in points with the Islanders, who also have 12 games to play.

Earlier in the year, this might have represented something to build on. At this stage, it’s only and all about points.

“I feel like there have been some games where we haven’t been good at all, and I think we did a lot of good things in this one but it’s getting tiring,” Mika Zibanejad said. “I feel that over the last few weeks we’ve been playing some good hockey but we still find a way to lose.

“It’s hard to look at the positives.”

Vincent Trocheck slides to the ice as he battles Andrei Kuzmenko for the puck during the Rangers’ loss to the Kings.

The Rangers lost this on their special teams, going 0-for-3 with the man advantage to stretch their futility streak to 0-for-13 over the last seven games and 1-for-28 over the last dozen matches.

At the same time, the Blueshirts surrendered two power play goals in the second period after J.T. Miller had scored at 2:10 for a 1-0 lead.

The Kings tied it at 1-1 at 10:54 on a back-door goal from Kevin Fiala on a gorgeous feed through Braden Schneider from Andrei Kuzmenko before Philip Danault banged in a rebound—one of precious few that Igor Shesterkin, whose eighth consecutive start matched his career high—off of Trevor Moore’s drive at 17:48.

“I would have liked to have been a little tighter but that was a strong play from a very talented player,” Schneider said. “I think you have to give him credit, too.”

J.T. Miller, who scored the Rangers’ only goal, skates up the ice during their loss to the Kings.

Schneider otherwise had an outstanding game, compiling a 65.38 share of attempts while on the ice with an expected goal share of 70.4 percent.

Indeed, he was on the ice for Miller’s goal. But the defenseman took no solace in his performance.

“At this point we need wins if we’re going to do anything,” said No. 4. “We can talk about a good effort or a good game, but it’s the end of the year and we need two points to have it mean anything.

“Like, I’m sure we played a better game that we did against Vancouver but we wound up winning that game and that’s all that matters now.”

Artemi Panarin controls the puck during the Rangers’ loss to the Kings.

The Rangers went with the top-nine units that ended Saturday’s game against the Canucks.

Miller skated between a much more engaged Alexis Lafreniere and Jonny Brodzinski, Trocheck was between Artemi Panarin — three shots on eight attempts — and Brennan Othmann while Zibanejad centered Chris Kreider and Will Cuylle.

Still, other than a couple of flurries in the second period, LA netminder Darcy Kuemper did not have to contend with many Grade A’s.

Indeed, the Blueshirts did not get a shot while playing with the extra attacker over the final 1:55 that included three Kings icings.

Nice try, who cares?

The Canadiens, who have won three of their last nine games (3-2-4), are operating at a full-season 88-point pace. The Islanders are playing at an 87 points pace.

The Rangers would be able to get to 89 by going 7-2-1 the rest of the way.

What, they don’t have a chance? What, they don’t have a chance to reach into your pockets for playoff tickets?

Well, no, they don’t if they don’t win games.

“It didn’t mean there wasn’t an effort, it didn’t mean that they didn’t work hard,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought we did a really good job of playing that game but we walk away with nothing.

“It’s disappointing. It’s frustrating. You can’t take anything from that.”

Onto Anaheim on Friday.