The lights are almost off on this already dark Rangers season.
An 8-5 loss to the Flyers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden pushed the Rangers to the brink of elimination, which could become official as soon as Thursday night on Long Island if they lose the second game of this back-to-back slate against the Islanders.
It was the visitors who got the better of a back-and-forth third period, in which eight total goals were scored between the two teams.
Philadelphia, already eliminated from playoff contention to match its longest postseason drought of five seasons, managed to find the back of the net five times in comparison to three for the Rangers.
After Sean Couturier regained the lead for the Flyers in the second half of the period on a long rebound from Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick, Tyson Foerster’s second of his three goals in the game ultimately stood as the game-winner.
Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) reacts on the ice in the second period at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Chris Kreider may have cut it back to a one-goal deficit with 1:50 left in regulation, but empty-netters from Foerster and Owen Tippett cleared out the fans who were remaining in the lower bowl of MSG.
Mika Zibanejad earned a penalty shot just 1:15 into the game, but the Swedish center went way wide.
It counted as the Rangers’ 11th straight miss of a penalty shot, with the last successful one coming from Dan Boyle on Dec. 9, 2015.
But the home team still managed to strike first.
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Skating shorthanded due to a too-many-men-on-the-ice call, Zibanejad pushed the puck up to Vincent Trocheck, who faked the shot before roofing a backhander past Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov for the 1-0 lead.
Foerster answered for the Flyers just over nine minutes into the second period, when the Philadelphia forward beat Quick short-side from the top left circle.
Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) celebrates his goal in the second period at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Flyers then took their first lead of the night while shorthanded on a goal from Garnet Hathaway.
It counted as the fourth shorthanded goal the Rangers have given up in their past six games.
Artemi Panarin, however, answered right back for the Rangers less than two minutes later.
Stitched up after taking a puck to the face shortly before, Panarin zeroed in before backhanding his 300th career goal past Kolosov for the 2-2 score.
The two teams continued to trade off goals in a back-and-forth third period.
Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) surrenders a goal to Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) in the second period at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
After Travis Sanheim swooped in and put back a rebound to regain the lead for the Flyers, Rangers Masterton nominee Jonny Brodzinski netted one from the side of the left circle to even it up again.
When J.T. Miller blasted one in to regain the lead for the Rangers at the 7:01 mark, Jakob Pelletier then followed up on a rebound to record yet another equalizer at the 8:01 mark.
