So what am I supposed to say today? Should I sit here and reflect on what a surprise this team turned out to be and how great it was that they finally made the playoffs? Should I be happy that we are seeing the emergence of some young stars that might help build the future? Should I take solace in the fact that these guys exceeded just about every single pre-season expectation?

While everything above is true, those are conversations to be had in July, not April. The fact is, this team was on the fast track for a #3 seed, a division title, and home ice advantage. Let's face it, if not for very low expectations, this would go down as one of the worst collapses in franchise history.

The fact is, this team has won only six games in regulation since the Olympic break. Five of those six regulation wins were against non-playoff teams. That means they have ONE regulation win against playoff teams since the break, and that was WAY back on March 2nd against a severely depleted Flyer squad. Remember, there ain't shootouts or 4-on-4 OT's in the playoffs.

To top it off, they have to make their first playoff appearance in a decade against a ridiculously hot New Jersey team. They won their last ELEVEN games to steamroll their way to the Atlantic Division title, even overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the Canadiens last night. Funny, everyone wrote how Lou Lamoriello mishandled the salary cap and personnel moves early in the year, and that the Devils' run as an Eastern powerhouse was coming to an end. Yet here we are, the playoffs about to begin and Lou behind the bench, and the Devs have to be considered one of the favorites for the Cup.

Worse still for the Blueshirts, their injury problems linger. Henrik Lundqvist said he felt fine, but there was tightness in his legs and he was tired by the end of the game. Right now, he just isn't in playoff shape. Darius Kasparaitis injured that sore groin again last night, and there isn't any word yet what his status will be come Saturday. No word on Rucchin (though it had been expected he will return) and no word on Rucinsky.

As usual, I attended the game, and I have to give credit to the fans that stuck around to the end. Quite a few people left after the 4th and 5th Ottawa goals, but a good number stayed. When that final buzzer sounded, there was a short "boo", followed by a long, loud standing ovation and a "Let's go Rangers" chant. They let the boys know that they appreciated the effort this season, and that they weren't done yet. Let's hope they listened.

The links are plentiful, and depressing.

The Daily News: In the end, the Rangers came full circle. They entered the regular season expected to fall on their faces. And they exited it last night doing pretty much just that.

The Daily News: Watching Tom Renney try to coach the Rangers the past few weeks has been like watching a guy try to herd cats.

NY Post: A brilliant revival now somehow carries the tinge of disappointment; the air of failure even though the season measures as a wild success. Still. The Rangers were just 9-11-4 after the Olympics and - get this - only 3-9-1 against playoff teams after the return from Turin.

NY Post: The Rangers are proving too dependent on one line, proving to have journeymen defensemen playing over their heads, proving low on gas from the kids who had filled their tank to a giddy start.

The Star Ledger: "Not to forecast anything -- other than the fact we're going to do everything we can to beat them -- I feel comfortable that we can beat New Jersey," he said. "I'm sure they feel the same way about us."

The Journal News: "Tonight, obviously everybody is disappointed with the outcome," Rangers center Dominic Moore said. "But you know what? Tomorrow is the beginning of what we've worked all year for, and that's the opportunity to play in the playoffs. Tomorrow it's a blank page. We can write whatever story we want to, and that's exciting."

NY Newsday: The Rangers desperately wanted to put together the sort of gem they routinely played earlier in the year. But they wound up looking like they choked. They tainted the seven-month joyride that preceded last night's loss by putting an ugly capstone on their season-closing swoon.

NY Newsday: "I guess [the Senators] made it very clear that we're a team that needs to work on being playoff-ready," coach Tom Renney said. "And if we can do that through practices, quite frankly, that's all we have left."

NY Sportsday: Also it seemed like the Olympics took something out of the team and they haven’t recovered since. “That’s a fact,” Renney explained. “It takes a psychological toll to play in a tournament like that. That event is important to European players. Our guys came back excited, but it didn’t turn out that way. Now we have an opportunity to do that in the playoffs.”

The Rodent breaks this team down, starting with the goalies and defense. He will get to the forwards later on.

For the final nail in the coffin, Scott Burnside says Rangers in seven.

Of course the playoff schedule is set. NHL.com has the entire first round. The also have a season review.

Jaromir Jagr lost out to Sharks Joe Thorton and Jonathan Cheechoo for the Art Ross and Maurice Richard trophies, respectively.

So, anyway, the playoffs start Saturday. I wish I could say that with more enthusiasm. It was like a kick to the stomach last night. One good thing is that there will be A LOT of Rangers fans in the Meadowlands. A co-worker picked up tickets for Game #2 as late as 10:00 am this morning. I urge all of you to give a call to the box office. The Blueshirts will need as much help as possible.

HDH

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