Cole Perfetti made a sharp cut to the left side as he approached the Rangers' net, drawing Igor Shesterkin out of position in the process, and while all five New York skaters backchecked their way into the play, no one bothered to put a body on Vladislav Namestnikov.

Detroit has a game in hand and slight edge in points percentage in a tight race for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot, but Monday's 4-0 win over the Islanders at Madison Square Garden helped the Blueshirts match the Red Wings with 66 total points. Three teams ‒ the Bruins, Canadiens and Senators ‒ are within a point or two of that.

New York fell 2-1 on Tuesday to the league-best Winnipeg Jets, fumbling an opportunity to pick up two points on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost to the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers remain two points back of the Blue Jackets for the second wild-card spot, but Columbus has a game in hand.

There are no consolation prizes nor moral victories for the New York Rangers these days. It’s as simple as pile

The losses have piled up for the Rangers once again. Falling 2-1 to the NHL-leading Jets on Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre, the Blueshirts have dropped four in a row for the third time this season and the first time since Dec.