NEWARK, N.J. – Seven games remain for the Rangers and Devils in the regular season and nothing is decided yet.
But the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to the Devils Thursday at Prudential Center dealt the Blueshirts a major blow in their attempt to pass the Devils in the Metropolitan Division standings and gain home ice advantage in a potential playoff series.
With the loss, the Rangers (44-21-10, 98) fell four points behind the Devils (47-20-8, 102) in the battle for second in the division, and if the season were to end today, the two teams would face each other in the first round, and Game 1 would be in New Jersey.