NEW YORK _ The daunting math says the chance is very, very slim, but the Rangers still believe they can make the playoffs this spring.
They began the post-All-Star break portion of their schedule on Friday night at Madison Square Garden with a 4-2 victory over Detroit in the opener of a home-and-home series against the last-in-the-league Red Wings. So at least they have the chance to give their unlikely quest a quick jolt, though coach David Quinn wasn't about to assume anything.
"Right now, regardless of who we're playing, these points are points we have to have," Quinn said at the morning skate. "Obviously, when the season starts, every team states that they want to make the playoffs; we're no different than anybody else. And we can't think about that. We have to take care of the task at hand and we have to be dialed in night in and night out, regardless of our opponent, and not thinking big picture and just think about winning our next hockey game and taking it a period at a time."
