The Rangers’ already thin margin for error grew even more narrow Tuesday night. Their loss to the Islanders, coupled with the Bruins’ victory over the Sabres, extended the Rangers’ deficit for the final playoff spot to six points with just 10 games remaining. Boston still has 12 games left.
But as one-sided as the 6-1 loss to the rival Islanders was, it didn’t diminish this young team’s confidence.
“Same mindset as we had even before we lost that game: We’re still in [the mix] to get a playoff spot,” defenseman Adam Fox said Wednesday following practice. “Obviously, every loss hurts, but I think we’re just going to keep playing hard until the end. That’s just the mindset. I don’t think anything changes from the loss.”
The schedule does work in the Blueshirts’ favor. Thursday’s meeting with the Flyers at the Garden starts a five-game homestand. They finish the year with two games against the Bruins in Boston. And four of their remaining contests are against the Flyers and Sabres, two teams out of contention in the East Division.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin will start in net Thursday against the Flyers, Rangers coach David Quinn said.
The Rangers signed forward Karl Henriksson to an entry-level contract Wednesday, the team announced.
A second-round pick in 2019, the 20-year-old Henriksson was playing for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, where he notched one goal and six assists, along with 18 penalty minutes, in 44 games.
