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Rangers Coach Reveals Grim Locker Room Admission After Brutal Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 1:26 PM ET

The theme of the New York Rangers season is that they roll over when any slight sign of adversity surfaces.

That was how the Rangers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 on Monday, dwindling their playoff hopes to a pipe dream.

The irony of the tilt was that the Rangers began the game with a 12-1 shot advantage until Nikita Kucherov, Yanni Gourde and Braden Point all struck within a span of 1:45, ending the Rangers hopes in the first period.

Head coach Peter Laviolette shuffled his lines again to try and match Tampa Bay's top talent, but it proved no difference.

When asked about how he addressed his players after the loss, Laviolette gave jarring insight into the state of the Rangers' locker room after the game.

"I don't have a message right now. I don't go into the locker room after the game," Laviolette said.

What's the message like in the locker room?

"I don't have a message right now. I don't go into the locker room after the game." -Peter Laviolette pic.twitter.com/ayaxrqnwVb
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) April 8, 2025

The Rangers are now sitting six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Both the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Islanders can pass the Rangers with victories on Tuesday night.

This loss also followed a lifeless 4-0 defeat to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, which all but nailed the coffin in the Rangers' season as is. With the playoff chase as tight as can be, the Rangers, who are one year removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular season team, have gone 3-6-1 in their past 10 games.

"We've got to win out now," Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski said. "We have to win out and we need help too. It (stinks) to be in this position."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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