WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The New York Rangers faced another setback on Tuesday night, falling 2-1 to the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. This defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss, placing their playoff hopes under increased pressure.
The Rangers now find themselves tied with the Boston Bruins, both trailing the Columbus Blue Jackets by two points for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Having already dropped four of their last five games, the Blueshirts are desperate for points as the regular season approaches its end.
"It sucks, I mean, we’re in a playoff fight right now. We’re battling for every point. When you don’t get the outcome you want, it sucks..." said Rangers defenseman Will Borgen after the game.
On the other side, Winnipeg's goalie Connor Hellebuyck was exceptional, stopping 21 of 22 shots, earning his 38th win of the season. This marked the 20th time Hellebuyck allowed one goal or less, showcasing his dominance between the pipes.
The Jets struck first early on, with Vladislav Namestnikov scoring 5:18 minutesinto the first period, breaking his eight-game point drought. The Rangers responded later when Mika Zibanejad capitalized on their first power play, netting his 15th goal of the season. This goal also marked the 106th power-play goal of Zibanejad's career with the Rangers, tying him with Brian Leetch for fourth-most power-play goals in franchise history.
Despite periods of good play, the Rangers struggled offensively, particularly late in the game. The Jets managed to limit the Rangers to just five shots and only two high-danger chances during the final 20 minutes of regulation, demonstrating their defensive prowess.
Gabriel Vilardi scored the game-winner for the Jets early in the second period, taking advantage of the Rangers’ penalty trouble. The Jets outmatched the Rangers on this power play, with Vilardi connecting with Cole Perfetti to give his team the lead.
Relatedly, the Rangers fights showed promise, especially against such formidable opposition. "We were pushing, especially in the last 20 minutes, but came up short," said Braden Schneider, reflecting on the missed opportunities.
Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for the Rangers and was actively involved during the last minutes as the Rangers tried to equalize, pulling him for the six-on-five advantage.
Just when it seemed Dylan DeMelo had scored for the Jets early in the third period to put them up 3-1, the Rangers challenged for goaltender interference, successfully nullifying the goal, adding some tension to the final minutes of play.
Head Coach Peter Laviolette expressed the frustration felt among his players. "There’s no consolation at this point of the season. We need wins, we need points. It’s frustrating... Our guys did play hard tonight, couldn’t get it to swing our way," he said post-game, stressing the importance of turning their performance around.
The Rangers' current four-game losing streak is the longest they have experienced since losing four straight from December 22-30, 2024. Pressure mounts as they prepare for their next matchup against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Jets capitalize on their victory, increasing their lead atop the Central Division by eight points over the Dallas Stars. With such performances, they remain one of the most feared teams as the playoffs approach.
For the Rangers, time is running out, and with only so many games left, they must gather strength to earn the points they need to secure their playoff position. Another disappointing loss may spell disaster for their postseason aspirations.
With the playoffs looming, both teams have clear paths laid before them: The Jets maintaining their strong lead and the Rangers, under the cloud of urgency, needing to find their footing as they head back on the ice against Minnesota.