The Ottawa Senators will have the luxury of avoiding some of the New York Rangers' best players when the teams face off Thursday in a critical game for Ottawa.
The Rangers will rest forwards Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello along with defenseman Marc Staal for the contest. The trio did not join the club for the morning skate.
The Senators are tied with the eighth-seeded Boston Bruins at 95 points, but trail them by virtue of having two fewer regulation and overtime wins. Both Ottawa and Boston have two games remaining. The Bruins face the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
The Rangers have clinched the Presidents' Trophy with the NHL's best record and have locked up a playoff berth, as well as the Metropolitan Division title.
Nash is tied with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos for second in the league with 42 goals.
