The final game of the regular season for a team that has clinched a playoff spot sometimes lends itself to resting some regulars, upping the minutes for role players and simply preparing for the postseason.
That won't be the case Saturday for the Pittsburgh Penguins (44-26-11) when they host the New York Rangers (31-36-14).
The Penguins can still finish second or third in the Metropolitan Division or even fall to the top Eastern Conference wild-card spot, depending on what they, the New York Islanders (at Washington) and the Carolina Hurricanes (at Philadelphia) do Saturday.
Pittsburgh didn't clinch a postseason spot until Thursday, with a 4-1 win over Detroit. The Penguins are 2-2 in their past four games, 5-2-2 in their past nine.
"I think we still have a lot to play for," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "We've been in a playoff mindset here for a month-plus, and there's still a lot on the table to play for. In my opinion, we've got a great opportunity. I think we've got to maximize it."
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby needs two points to finish with 100, and his team needs one point to reach the same number. Crosby figures going full bore against the Rangers serves the dual purpose of vying for better seeding and serving as one final tune-up before the postseason.
"I think we've had to play that way for so long that at this point I think that's the mentality that we go with, and that's a good thing," he said. "I think that is something that helps when you're going into the playoffs. It's one more game and an opportunity to move up, so I think there's a lot of motivation."
Although the playoff seeding is the bigger priority, the Penguins have won their first three games against the Rangers and can complete their first sweep in the season series since 1994-95.
The Rangers are out of the playoffs and relegated to setting a foundation for next season and playing a spoiler role.
Friday, New York lost its third straight but nearly prevented the Columbus Blue Jackets from clinching a playoff spot. The Rangers scored with seven seconds left in regulation before losing 3-2 in a shootout.
It seems likely that veteran Henrik Lundqvist will start in goal for the Rangers after Alexandar Georgiev started against the Blue Jackets.
The game will be Glen Sather's last as Rangers president. He will transition to a role of senior advisor.
Sather told the New York Post his one regret in his 19 years as president: "I certainly would have been happier about it if we'd won the Stanley Cup." The Rangers went to the final in 2014.
Sather steps away as New York is undergoing a rebuild and a youth movement following a stretch where the Rangers dealt a series of first-round draft picks for veterans.
"I don't think it does any good to second-guess," Sather told the Post. "We had a plan, a really strong team, and I thought we had a great opportunity to win by making those deals. I'm sorry it didn't happen. We sure tried."
--Field Level Media