Later tonight, the Rangers play their final game of the regular season when Senators visit Madison Square Garden. Faceoff is set for 7:30 PM.

It’s rather simple. A win will wrap up both the Metropolitan Division and the President’s Trophy. The Hurricanes are knocking on the door, trailing by a point for home ice. If the Rangers slip up, the Hurricanes can finish first with a win over the Blue Jackets tomorrow night. By virtue of more regulation wins (44-42), they have the first tiebreaker.

A win of any kind would make that irrelevant. The Rangers can reach 114 points. The Canes can only get to 113. All they have to do is take care of business against the Senators. An opponent that has nothing to lose. They are capable of spoiling the party. Brady Tkachuk usually plays well versus the Rangers. We’ll see what happens.

For a second straight game, coach Peter Laviolette will roll out the same lineup. That means K’Andre Miller remains on the second pair with Braden Schneider. Jacob Trouba will play with Erik Gustafsson on the third pair. As usual, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox comprise the top pair.

Zac Jones skated with Chad Ruhwedel as the extras in practice. Jones certainly proved himself this season. If Gustafsson has a bad game in the playoffs, Jones should replace him. Laviolette shouldn’t hesitate. Everything becomes so magnified in best of seven series.

The same forwards will also make up the four lines, like Saturday’s win over the Islanders. That means Vincent Trocheck between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Mika Zibanejad with Chris Kreider and Jack Roslovic. Alex Wennberg centering Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. Barclay Goodrow between Jimmy Vesey and Matt Rempe.

After taking eight shifts and logging 5:57 of ice time against the Islanders, Rempe will again play over Jonny Brodzinski. When asked about the 21-year-old rookie, Laviolette endorsed him as a possibility for the playoffs.

“To answer your question, yeah. I do think he’s ready for playoff games.”

Laviolette was pleased with how Rempe played in the win over the Islanders. “His game last game was excellent. I know it’s limited ice, and I know his role and responsibility, but they were a positive line. They put the puck behind, they were physical, they got into the offensive zone, pucks were going at the net.”

Rempe will see a familiar face when he’s on the ice. In a move made for tonight’s game, the Senators called up Zack Ostapchuk. They fought before in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

There’s a history. It’ll be interesting to see how Rempe approaches his shifts. He didn’t engage any Islander in the last game. He stuck to playing hockey by finishing checks and getting in on the forecheck.

The potential for a showdown between Ostapchuk and Rempe is a subplot. That’ll depend on Rempe, who understands his role.

Most importantly, the Rangers want to play well and finish the season with a victory that’ll clinch home ice for the postseason.