TORONTO - J.T. Miller and the New York Rangers, expecting a strong season with key additions like head coach Mike Sullivan, fell short. The Rangers (28-35-9) were officially eliminated Wednesday after losing 4-3 to Toronto. Captain J.T. Miller expressed disappointment: "It sucks … it’s the worst." Despite directing 43 shots on goal, their efforts proved futile.
Head coach Mike Sullivan emphasized building toward the future: "We’re doing everything we can to instil a standard here." Centre Mika Zibanejad echoed the sentiment, adding, "This is not what we wanted," despite scoring twice in the game.
Toronto’s Jake McCabe ended his scoring drought, netting his fourth goal of the season. The Maple Leafs, also missing playoffs, showed resilience ahead of a rebuilding phase.