The Rangers’ playoff hopes are still alive. 

Despite a series of losses this month, the Blueshirts did enough in January and February to rejoin the Eastern Conference wild-card race and give themselves enough of a fighting chance that an empty-net-abetted 5-3 win over the Canucks on Saturday afternoon put them back on the cusp of the postseason picture. 

Even if their points tie with Montreal is brief, with the Canadiens and Islanders (each have two games in hand on Rangers) both set to play later Saturday night, the Rangers were in desperate need of a pick-me-up victory. 

Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers defends against Jake DeBrusk of the Canucks during the second period on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post

It had been a bleak week for the Rangers’ playoff odds, but they snapped a three-game losing skid to remain in contention. 

This wasn’t exactly the most convincing performance from the Rangers, who were capped at way less than 10 shots in each period for the second time in the last three games.

Their last few efforts had been heavily questioned, but they ground this one out to go into their last three-game road trip on a high note. 

And they did so on a night when legendary voice of the Rangers Sam Rosen was honored for his iconic 40 years in the Madison Square Garden broadcast booth. 

Jonny Brodzinski scored twice in the Rangers’ win, including the game-winner as part of a goal-scoring palooza over the final 20 minutes of regulation.

The Rangers and Canucks traded off five total goals before the Blueshirts emerged victorious at the final horn. 

The Rangers were once again flat-footed at the start, barely generating any offense through the opening 20 minutes as the Canucks had their way in the home team’s zone before taking a 1-0 lead. 

It doesn’t get any more egregious than being outshot 11-1, out-attempted 13-3 and coming out on the wrong end of an 8-1 advantage in high-danger chances. 

Vincent Trocheck of the Rangers gets into a scuffle against Jake DeBrusk of the Canucks as Matt Rempe of the Rangers pulls DeBrusk back during the second period on March 22, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post

On one of the Canucks’ several shifts swarming the Rangers zone, Dakota Joshua jammed home a rebound for his fifth goal of the season. 

Despite rarely possessing the puck, the Rangers managed to wake MSG up and tie the game at one-all just over halfway through the second period.

Adam Fox got a stick on a long Braden Schneider to keep the Blueshirts competitive.

Rangers commentator Sam Rosen is honored before the start of the game as he is retiring after being the voice of the Rangers for 40 years when the New York Rangers played the Vancouver Canucks Saturday, March 22, 2025 Robert Sabo for NY Post

J.T. Miller, facing his former team of six years for the first time since getting traded back to New York at the end of January, set up Brodzinski for the Rangers’ first go-ahead goal. 

After helping usher the puck into the Canucks’ zone, Miller found Brodzinski all alone on the doorstep of Vancouver’s crease for the 31-year-old’s eighth goal of the season.

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The goal came just 1:39 into the third period, but the Rangers couldn’t buckle down enough. 

Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers checks Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks during the second period when the New York Rangers played the Vancouver Canucks Saturday, March 22, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Drew O’Connor kept the Canucks in it, however, when he cleaned up his own rebound at the 11:22 mark of the third period. 

The Rangers retook the lead at 3-2 on a goal from K’Andre Miller, who ripped the puck off the skate of Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and in with 7:20 left in regulation.

Vancouver never stopped coming.

Brock Boeser later shook off Miller behind the Rangers’ net and scored to make it a 3-3 game.