If this were James Bond, Die Another Day would apply to the Rangers who enter the weekend clinging to life. After humiliating the Islanders 9-2 to keep their grim playoff hopes alive, they got help on the scoreboard tonight with the Senators defeating the Canadiens 5-2.

The tragic number remains at 1. When they visit the Hurricanes for a 3 PM game on ABC, the Rangers must win in any fashion. Considering how bad they’ve been against playoff teams, don’t bet on it. Carolina doesn’t have much on the line due to the Devils being unable to catch them for second place in the division. They’re locked into the 2/3 first round matchup versus the Devils (4-2 losers to the Pens).

In three previous meetings, the Rangers have been outscored by the Canes 11-4 in three losses all coming in regulation. Carolina’s superior puck possession and more structured system have been the difference. Their best players have all performed well in the season series, with Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov all averaging at least a point-per-game. Artemi Panarin has been held without a point with a minus-4 rating.

Freddie Andersen won the last matchup 2-0 making 22 saves. He’s been the better goalie for the Canes. Pyotr Kochetkov has struggled losing three of his last four starts. However, Brind’Amour might decide to start him tomorrow due to the Canes hosting the Maple Leafs on Sunday. They could give Andersen the tougher opponent this weekend.

At this point, it’s Igor Shesterkin for the Blueshirts. He made 44 saves to win his 26th game of the season against the Islanders, who peppered him the final two periods. Unlike the dominance he’s had in the postseason, Shesterkin’s 0-3 with a 3.42 goals-against-average and .888 save percentage versus the Canes this season. Much of that can be attributed to the defensive woes in front of him. Inconsistent and unsteady play has been a theme throughout a disappointing season. There have been way too many breakdowns in coverage. Combine that with the rapid decline on the power play and recent issues on the penalty kill and it explains why they’re on the outside looking in.

As for the lineup, it’s anyone’s guess what Peter Laviolette will do. He made the head scratching decision to scratch 2023 first round pick Gabriel Perreault the last two games. So much for letting the 19-year-old play after burning a year off his entry-level contract. It took only three games for Laviolette to have Perreault sit in the press box. Brennan Othmann joined him on Thursday night at Elmont. Othmann has failed to score a goal in 20 games. Despite that, he has positive possession numbers and is a plus-8.

With Brett Berard recording his first two-goal game, including a nice backhand finish off a Matt Rempe pass, the fourth line should remain intact. Laviolette’s gone back to shifting Mika Zibanejad to the right side on a line with J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle. The trio combined for two goals and four assists in the Rangers’ rout of the Islanders. Cuylle snapped a 10-game goal drought by notching his 18th in a four-goal first period.

Even little-used Jusso Parssinen managed to score on a wrap-around that made it 5-0. After going without a point in his first eight games, he managed to pick up a goal and two assists against the Islanders’ AHL goalies. Marcus Hogberg allowed eight goals on 30 shots. Patrick Roy replaced him with Tristan Lennox following Berard’s first of the game that made it 6-1. After Berard beat Lennox to make it 7-2, Roy replaced him with Hogberg, who finished the game. The move opened Roy up to criticism from frustrated Islanders fans, who watched the Rangers sweep the season series for only the third time. The Rangers outscored the Islanders 23-5 to win all four matchups.

Panarin scored twice to hike his team-leading total to 37 goals with three games left on the schedule. If he can get three more, he’d join Jean Ratelle and Mike Gartner as just the third player in Rangers franchise history to record consecutive 40-goal seasons. Gartner holds the team record with three straight from 1990-91 to 1992-93.

If they find a way to earn two points at Carolina, that would pull them within four of the Canadiens. Montreal visits Toronto on Hockey Night In Canada. With the Red Wings also coming back to win in overtime over the Lightning, they’re also still alive. The Blue Jackets have four games remaining entering the weekend. They host the division-leading Caps at 12:30 PM on Saturday. Columbus must win to stay alive. They’re currently tied with the Rangers and Red Wings in points (81). Even the Islanders haven’t been officially eliminated. But they need to run the table and have the Canadiens lose out in regulation, which is highly unlikely.

Any Montreal win in regulation will clinch the final wild card. It would take them to 89 points. Even if Columbus somehow ran the table and tied them in points, they’d lose out on the first tiebreaker. The rest can only get to 87 points. The Rangers are still alive due to having more regulation wins. If by some miracle they make it through the weekend, they then would have to go into Florida and beat the defending champs on Monday night. The Canadiens host the Blackhawks at the same time.

If all of this seems like a waste of time, that’s because it probably is. Everyone who roots for this team knows that they don’t deserve to make the playoffs. Laviolette’s puzzling lineup decisions remain frustrating. At this point, fans want to see what Perreault can do. Nobody cares that Alexis Lafreniere scored his fourth goal in over 30 games. As well as he’s played, nobody is invested in Jonny Brodzinski. There isn’t any rhyme or reason to why Carson Soucy remains in the lineup. I don’t even know why Chris Drury traded for him. Calvin de Haan performed better. He’s since vanished into witness protection.

Can anyone explain why Jonathan Quick started the Flyers game? Better yet, if he was so rusty, why didn’t Shesterkin replace him? Only Laviolette knows the answer. Maybe we’re better off not knowing.