Red Wings' playoff push dealt blow with 4-1 loss to Rangers

Detroit remains outside of playoff position with six games left in the season

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:33pm

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The Detroit Red Wings' pursuit of a playoff spot took a hit on Saturday as they fell 4-1 to the already-eliminated New York Rangers. Despite a strong performance from goaltender John Gibson, the Red Wings were unable to score until the final 32 seconds and allowed a hat trick to Rangers forward Gabriel Perreault. The loss keeps Detroit on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race with six games remaining in the regular season.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are in a tight battle for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, making this a crucial loss in their postseason push. Meanwhile, the Rangers played spoiler by knocking off a team still fighting for a playoff berth, further cementing their status as an also-ran this season.

The details

The Red Wings fell behind early when Jaroslav Chmelar scored for the Rangers 13 minutes into the game. Perreault then added two more goals in the second and third periods, with his first coming off a perfect pass from Mika Zibanejad. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin appeared to get injured during the game but returned and played through the pain. Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick, making his first appearance since March 18, stopped 31 of 32 shots in the win.

  • The Red Wings loss came on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • Detroit has six regular season games remaining.

The players

John Gibson

The Red Wings' starting goaltender, who made 17 saves in the loss.

Gabriel Perreault

The Rangers forward who scored a hat trick in the game.

Dylan Larkin

The Red Wings' captain, who appeared to get injured but returned to the game.

Jonathan Quick

The Rangers' veteran goaltender, who made 31 saves in his return from injury.

Mika Zibanejad

The Rangers center who recorded an assist on Perreault's first goal.

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What’s next

The Red Wings will host the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in a crucial game as they continue their push for the postseason. The Rangers will take on the Washington Capitals at home on the same night.

The takeaway

This loss is a significant setback for the Red Wings in their quest to secure a playoff spot, as they remain on the outside looking in with just six games left in the regular season. The Rangers, meanwhile, played the role of spoiler by knocking off a team still fighting for the postseason, further cementing their status as an also-ran this year.