Vaakanainen will dress in the Rangers season finale after Carson Soucy was a late scratch due to illness. Vaakanainen has two goals and 14 assists in 50 games this season.

Soucy was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Rangers not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Urho Vaakanainen will draw into the lineup in his place.

The Rangers will conclude a disappointing 2024-25 season with Shesterkin tending the twine against the Tampa Bay Lightning. While the blame is not entirely on him, Shesterkin failed to keep his team in playoff contention when they needed him most, posting an ugly 3.64 GAA and .865 SV% in five April games (2-3-0). The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.91 GAA and .903 SV% in 60 games this season (26-29-5). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as -128 home favorites against a Lightning team with points in six straight (3-0-3).

Dowling has already played a career-high 51 games this season, tallying seven points (2G / 5A), and will return to the sidelines on Tuesday as a healthy scratch. Marc McLaughlin will draw into the lineup as Dowling's replacement.

Zac Jones will draw back into New York's lineup on Monday against the Florida Panthers, resulting in Vaakanainen being a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Vaakanainen is averaging 16:22 time-on-ice and has 16 points (2G / 14A) in 50 games this season.

Carrick will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Florida Panthers, missing only his second game of the season. The 33-year-old Carrick is averaging 11:54 time-on-ice and has 20 points (6G / 14A) in 79 games this season.

Othmann did not play New York's previous game, but he will re-enter the lineup on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 9:46 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 20 games this season.

Perreault played the first three games of his NHL career and was subsequently a scratch in two straight, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 19-year-old Perreault has zero points, four shots, and -1 plus/minus rating.

Officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Rangers will turn to Quick between the pipes on Monday against the Florida Panthers. Quick has struggled lately, allowing six or more goals in two of his last three games (1-2-0). The 39-year-old veteran netminder has a 3.18 GAA and .893 SV% in 23 games this season (10-7-2). The Rangers enter Monday's contest as +142 road underdogs against the Panthers.

Nathan Bastian and Curtis Lazar will draw back into New Jersey's lineup on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, sending Justin Dowling and Tomas Tatar to the sidelines as healthy scratches. The 34-year-old Dowling has played a career-high 50 games this season, scoring seven points (2G / 5A).

Parssinen will look to provide a spark on Thursday for the tail-end of New York's back-to-back. Brennan Othmann will sit in his place.

Othmann will take a seat on Thursday for the tail-end of New York's back-to-back. Juuso Parssinen will draw into the lineup in his place.

Morrow will draw in for Shayne Gostisbehere, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Morrow has one goal and four assists in nine games this season.

With only four games remaining, the Rangers effectively squandered their slim hopes of making the playoffs after a disappointing 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night. The Rangers needed Shesterkin at his best for any hopes of making the playoffs, and he responded with an uninspiring 3.70 GAA and .820 SV% in three April games (1-2-0). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as +109 road underdogs against the New York Islanders.