Reports of serious changes coming for the Rangers today

In case you missed it last night, the New York Rangers were officially eliminated from playoff contention thanks to a shocking 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

After the game there was plenty of blame to go around, but most Rangers fans seem to blame this wasted season on head coach Peter Laviolette. The veteran coach has been under fire this past week for his unwillingness to change a failing strategy and now there are reports that he could be fired as early as today.

“In talking to other people around the league, the low hanging fruit, the expectation from a lot of people that I have talked to is that Peter Laviolette could get fired today,” said TSN insider Pierre LeBrun earlier today.

That's... not terribly surprising.

Laviolette has been hanging on for months at this point and, frankly, he doesn't really inspire confidence if you're judging him based off the comments of his own players.

The problem in New York isn't all coaching though. GM Chris Drury has dropped the ball several times in the past couple seasons, but LeBrun doesn't feel like Drury's job is at stake this offseason.

“There are other issues here in New York, now I go back to the way Barclay Goodrow was waived and his exit from NY last summer and I know that didn’t sit well with some Rangers’ players then how Jacob Trouba, the captain got dealt... I think there are some players... that have been upset.”

"What about GM Chris Drury? My sense there is that he should be ok. I think that there's a lot of loyalty from Jim Dolan the owner. A lot of people around the league though waiting to see what shoe will drop," finished LeBrun.

If that's true, Drury has not only a tough task in re-shaping his roster but also in finding and hiring a competent coaching staff.

Buckle up, Blueshirts fans. Things could get interesting.

Read below for last night's report on the Rangers, as they were eliminated from post-season contention.

I hate to have to say this but the New York Rangers gave up when there was still a chance. On Wednesday, they could stay in the fight for a playoff spot with a win over the Philadelphia Flyers, the worst team in the East.

The Blue Shirts still found a way to lose as things got ugly for them in the third period and fans in the building just knew it was over…

While veteran forward Chris Kreider cut the deficit to 6-5 in the last minutes of the last frame with his 21st tally of the season, it was too late.

The Rangers pulled goalie Jonathan Quick for the extra attacker, but the Flyers made sure to get the win with Tyson Foerster recording his first hat trick in the NHL.

Then, adding insult to injury, the Flyers made it 8-5 and called it a night as the Rangers were visibly frustrated on the ice.

Fans were leaving the stands early and will most likely complain a lot more about head coach Peter Laviolette and ask for him to be fired at the end of the season.

But it pretty much ends next week for the Rangers, who missed out on the ideal opportunity to get two points tonight against the Flyers and stay alive in the playoff race. Now, they must win their last four games and have the Montreal Canadiens lose out in regulation to make the playoffs. To pour salt on the Rangers' wounds, the loss clinched a playoff berth for the New Jersey Devils.