The Rangers dig in their heels on Vincent Trocheck, slapping a sky-high price tag that sends suitors like the Wild, Bruins, Hurricanes and Red Wings scrambling for the exits. Front offices whisper that New York might regret not cashing in while his value peaks, especially with that modified NTC complicating summer plans.

Anze Kopitar laces up for his final season with the Kings, and Monday's clash at MSG against the Rangers delivers the moment Kings diehards have dreaded - a heartfelt on-ice embrace with old teammate Jonathan Quick. Quick, now minding the Rangers net after stints in Columbus and Vegas, waits his turn after his teammates pay respects to the longtime captain, their two Stanley Cup bonds from 2012 and 2014 hanging heavy in the air.

Mark Messier steps up to the media before Game 6 against the Devils, boldly guaranteeing a Rangers win when elimination stares them down in the Eastern Conference Finals. The captain backs his words with a hat trick after New York trails by two, flipping the script on a Devils team that dominated the regular-season matchups. That fire ignites a 54-year drought's end, as the Rangers claw their way to the Stanley Cup, proving belief and grit conquer New York's curse.

Bubble teams like the Canadiens and Rangers jockey for wild-card survival with fresh playoff brackets showing multiple clinching scenarios that could flip the postseason picture overnight. Front offices sweat every point as tiebreakers and head-to-heads loom large for these scrappers fighting to extend their seasons. With the trade deadline dust settling, one hot streak separates lottery bound from Presidents' Trophy chasers in this razor-thin race.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar shares a raw, heartfelt moment with Jonathan Quick after their final win at MSG. Two legends reflect on battles won and lost in a building that tested them both over the years. LA's locker room bonds deepen as they eye a deep playoff run with that old-school grit.

Vincent Trocheck pulls a classic locker room move by crashing Artemi Panarin's cherished Madison Square Garden pregame ritual on the ex-teammate's big return night. The Rangers center, no stranger to MSG magic, amps up the vibes as Panarin eyes his first look back since the trade. With New York surging offensively and LA desperate for points, this lighthearted hijack hints at the tension bubbling under the surface.

Vincent Trocheck wires a power-play goal past Darcy Kuemper as the Rangers host the Kings in a matchup that tests both teams' playoff pushes. Front offices around the league know Trocheck's value remains sky-high after he dodged the trade deadline buzz, with suitors like Minnesota and Boston circling but balking at New York's steep price. This goal underscores why the Rangers held firm, and it raises the stakes for Kuemper to stabilize LA's net in a season full of defensive questions.

Alexis Lafreniere put together one of those weeks that reminds you why the Rangers traded for him - five goals and two assists across four games, including a second career hat trick and a pair of game-winners that had the Garden rocking. The 24-year-old has been on an absolute tear since the Olympic break, and this First Star honor is just the visible proof of what's been happening on the ice night after night.

Igor Shesterkin is drawing his third consecutive start as the Rangers prepare to face a Los Angeles team that's been one of the league's most anemic offenses. The elite goaltender has won five of his last six outings with a 2.63 goals-against average, and he's walking into a favorable matchup against a Kings squad generating just 2.61 goals per game - tied for the third-worst in the NHL.

Martin St-Louis is facing mounting criticism over his power play management, particularly his decision to bench Lane Hutson during crucial five-on-three situations despite the young defenseman's elite playmaking ability. The Canadiens' coaching staff has grown increasingly frustrated with decisions that seem to contradict the team's offensive firepower, raising questions about St-Louis' in-game strategy as Montreal navigates a difficult stretch.