The New York Rangers have made a bold decision by firing head coach Peter Laviolette following a disappointing season that saw the team miss the playoffs despite a promising first year under his leadership. This drastic change follows a year filled with internal strife and underperformance, particularly among the team's leading scorers such as Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, who all fell short of expectations. The coaching staff reshuffle also included the dismissal of associate coach Phil Housley. With Laviolette's exit, the Rangers are poised for another coaching search, eyeing experienced candidates to lead them back to contention.

Laviolet's tenure began with excitement after the team secured the Presidents' Trophy, but a drastic decline plagued the roster in his second season. The Rangers struggled on both offense and defense, leading to questions about their roster's construction and the team's overall culture. The players' frustrations with coaching decisions and lineup choices only exacerbated the situation, prompting the front office to evaluate their options going forward. The Rangers aim to revitalize their strategy and regain their competitive edge in the league.

The New York Rangers' season has ended on a disappointing note, following an offseason filled with drama and poor performance. After winning the Presidents' Trophy last season, they dropped significantly to just 39 wins this year, marking only the fourth time in NHL history a team has missed the playoffs after such success. Off-ice turmoil surrounded star Artemi Panarin, with serious allegations clouding his future.

Coach Peter Laviolette is likely facing dismissal, and long-time Ranger Chris Kreider may have played his last game at Madison Square Garden. While Kreider netted his 326th career goal during the finale against the Tampa Bay Lightning, his lackluster season raises questions about his future with the team. As the Rangers head into a critical offseason, fans are left wondering what changes lie ahead to turn the tide for the franchise.

The NHL regular season nears its end with the Florida Panthers facing the New York Rangers. The Panthers hold a -169 money line advantage as they vie for a top-four playoff spot, while the Rangers have been eliminated from contention. Key player prop bets include Connor Bedard's under 2.5 shots on goal, backed by a trend of underperforming in similar matchups this season, and Chris Kreider's over 1.5 shots on goal, showing consistent performance. Connor McDavid faces a challenge against the Kings' tough defense, leading to a projection of under 1.5 points despite his recent scoring streak.

The New York Rangers' playoff hopes are fading rapidly after a disheartening 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. With just five games left, the Rangers sit six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Their chances of making the playoffs have been severely diminished, particularly given their inability to win three consecutive games since mid-November. The team’s recent performances have lacked resilience, with significant lapses in critical moments. Despite a promising start against Tampa, they fell apart within a short span of 1:45, conceding three goals and leaving themselves unable to recover.

Despite showing some life in the second period, where they managed to outshoot Tampa, the Rangers' power play has struggled all season, only recently finding some rhythm. Mika Zibanejad provided a rare highlight with a power-play goal, but it proved too little, too late to salvage the game. The Rangers need to win out and hope the Canadiens falter significantly, a scenario many doubt given the current state of the team. With the playoffs slipping away, questions about the team's toughness and ability to perform under pressure loom larger than ever.