Rangers throttle Sharks to gain sole possession of final wild card spot

This was a 60-minute sample of what the Rangers could be, probably should be, and if you’re going to discount Saturday’s 6-1 victory because it came against the 32d-overall Sharks, well, the Maple Leafs were beaten here 48 hours earlier.

There was a different mentality. There was a different commitment to 200×85 hockey.

The compete level never wavered. Egregious breakdowns were avoided.

For the first time in a very long time, the Blueshirts looked like a playoff team after building a 2-0 lead in the first period and a 3-0 edge through 40 minutes.

Lo and behold, they left this three-game excursion through California with at least a temporary hold on the conference’s second wild card spot, two points up on Columbus and Montreal and three points up on the Islanders and Detroit though the competition all holds one or two games in hand as the April 17 wire approaches.

This was night on which marquee players produced marquee results with both Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox scoring twice while Jonathan Quick, in his first start since March 9, was unwavering in his net while recording his 403d career victory that tied Grant Fuhr for 13th on the all-time leaderboard.

“He’s obviously a legend in this game,” Quick told The Post. “He was a teammate of my longtime goalie coach [Bill Ranford] so that’s special but it’s also a tribute to the guys around me who have helped me be a part of winning teams.”

Artemi Panarin (10) and Urho Vaakanainen (back of net) celebrate after one of Panarin’s two goals in the Rangers’ 6-1 blowout wni over the Sharks on March 29, 2025.

Oh, and this bulletin: Chris Kreider picked up his first primary assist of the season off his feed for Jonny Brodzinski’s 4-0 goal.

“It definitely comes with a form of pressure, right, but so does playing a majority of the games,” Quick said when asked if there was a different burden stepping into a critical situation after a three-week hiatus. “That pressure as a pro athlete is something you either enjoy or it could hurt you.

“You try and enjoy and take every moment for what it is. You prepare as hard as you can and you trust that preparation.”

The Rangers had won just one of their previous six (1-4-1) and three of their previous dozen (3-7-2) after Friday’s downer of an overtime loss in Anaheim.

Jonny Brodzinski (center) accepts congratulations from Mika Zibanejad (left) and Chris Kreider after scoring a third period goal during the Rangers’ blowout win over the Sharks.

Still, because of the pervasive mediocrity in the league, they were still right there when the puck dropped.

“We didn’t have time to cry about that game. We know where we are and we know that we need to play,” said Panarin, who scored twice in the first period for his ninth and 10th goals (with 10 assists) over the last 15 games. “We’re not really getting the results and I’m not scoring like last year [with 49 goals], but I’m happy tonight and so are we.”

The Sharks are young, fast and precocious.

Mika Zibanejad (right) battles for the puck with Patrick Giles during the Rangers’ blowout win over the Sharks.

After being hemmed in for most of the first period, they threatened in the early stages of the second but Quick came up with his most important saves of the night, denying Macklin Celebrini from the slot off a rush at 2:15 and then, 19 seconds later, robbing Will Smith down low off a two-on-one.

“There wasn’t a six on the board then,” said head coach Peter Laviolette. “They were two monster saves and were so important to the game.

“Watching him jump in like that, but that’s him, though. He’s a pro, he’s been doing that his whole career.”

Collin Graf collides into Jonathan Quick, who made 21 saves, as Braden Schneider looks on during the second period of the Rangers’ blowout win over the Sharks.

Brennan Othmann had an outstanding game on the right with Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, the line generating 17 attempts with a 74.03 expected goal share in playing below the hash marks most of the night.

Puck support and movement was excellent.

The Rangers, other for those scary moments early in the second, were in complete control. They played with some swagger for the first time in eons.

“Right now it’s about collecting wins and I’ve said this in [the room] and it’s the way we talk about it every day,” said head coach Peter Laviolette. “We have to turn the page.

“We’re still fighting and we’re still pushing for something. We’ve made it a little bit difficult for ourselves, but I think the guys are still dialed in on collecting points.”

Eight to go, the next on Wednesday at the Garden against the Wild. Eight to go with a playoff spot in the balance.

On this night, the Rangers looked like they belonged in the playoffs. But the burden of proof is on them.

We’ll see.