JUST IN : 3 Key Takeaways as Rangers’ OT Loss to Ducks Keeps Them Outside the Playoff Picture

Rangers Collapse in OT Against Ducks: Costly Loss Leaves Playoff Hopes Hanging by a Thread

The New York Rangers suffered a devastating 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, blowing a two-goal lead late in the third period and failing to touch the puck in OT before Mason McTavish sealed their fate. Instead of locking in a crucial win and moving into playoff position, the Rangers left Honda Center with just a single, frustrating point—keeping them on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

With the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens also battling for the final wild-card spot, the Rangers’ inability to close out games has put them in a dangerous position with the postseason looming.

Here are three key takeaways from one of their most painful losses of the season:

1. Overtime Nightmares Continue—And It’s Killing Their Season

The Rangers’ overtime struggles have reached a breaking point. With seven losses in nine OT games this season, their inability to finish strong is costing them valuable points. Even more frustrating, in six of those seven defeats, they held a lead in the third period before letting it slip away.

Instead of tightening their grip on a playoff spot, these blown opportunities have them scrambling to keep pace in the standings. Head coach Peter Laviolette didn’t hold back his frustration.

“We controlled the game heading into the third period—again—and we didn’t execute,” Laviolette said in a tense, 45-second press conference. “That’s about as disappointing as it gets.”

2. Power Play Meltdown Proves Costly

Mika Zibanejad’s power-play goal early in the third period seemed like the dagger, putting the Rangers up 4-2. But instead of finishing off the Ducks, the Rangers wasted four more power plays—including a lengthy 5-on-3—and let Anaheim hang around.

The final missed opportunity was the most damaging. A reckless penalty by Radko Gudas gave New York another man advantage with under four minutes left. Instead of capitalizing, the Rangers failed to score, and the moment Gudas stepped out of the box, Anaheim stormed down the ice for the game-tying goal.

“Our power play basically handed them the game,” J.T. Miller admitted. “They scored twice against us. That’s on us.”

3. No Time to Dwell—Sharks Await in a Must-Win Matchup

There’s no time for self-pity. The Rangers immediately traveled to San Jose for a Saturday night showdown with the last-place Sharks—a team with nothing to lose and coming off a shocking 6-5 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With Igor Shesterkin having started nine straight games, Jonathan Quick is expected to get the nod in goal. And across the ice? Former Ranger Alexandar Georgiev, who would love nothing more than to bury his old team’s playoff hopes even further.

This is gut-check time for the Rangers. Another collapse, and their postseason dreams could be in serious jeopardy.