With Breakup Day taking place yesterday, the 2017-18 Rangers were together for the final time, and the team’s returning players won’t participate in any official team activities until September. With that, this will also be the final Bantering Points of the season. Thanks to all of those who clicked on these links everyday. With that said, here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• There’s still time to join Blueshirt Banter’s official playoff bracket challenge, so sign up before 7:00 PM tonight
• Justin Tasch picked up that New York’s players didn’t seem too disappointed in Alain Vigneault’s dismissal (NY Daily News)
• Brett Cyrgalis reports that Henrik Lundqvist was battling a knee injury throughout the season (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson saw that the Rangers’ players are excited to put this campaign behind them and prepare for the 2018-19 season (Newsday)
• Frank Curto discusses how the team’s coaching search is at the forefront of their offseason plans (Elite Sports NY)
• John Cavanagh evaluates Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson’s first season in North America (Blue Line Station)
• Drew McCaffrey details how injuries helped derail New York’s season (Blue Line Station)
• Jeff Kayer analyzes the Rangers’ rumored signing of Ilya Kovalchuk and what it means going forward (The Hockey Writers)
• Chris Nichols relays word from Bob McKenzie  about New York’s “rebuild” and how long it will truly last (FanRag)
• Media Availability: Henrik Lundqvist,(8:50) Neal Pionk,(3:09) Vladislav Namestnikov (1:53) John Gilmour,(1:56) Brady Skjei,(3:44) Mats Zuccarello,(4:09) Kevin Shattenkirk,(11:28) Jesper Fast,(1:27) Kevin Hayes,(2:52) Mika Zibanejad,(4:39) and Chris Kreider (5:43) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Travis Yost breaks down the numbers behind the Western Conference playoff teams (TSN)
• Andrew Berkshire, Dimitri Filipovic, and Stephen Burtch revealed their brackets for the Stanley Cup Playoffs (Sportsnet)
• Barry Trotz announces that Philip Grubauer will start Game 1 of his team’s playoff series against Columbus instead of Braden Holtby (NBC Sports)
• Ryan Lambert ranks the sixteen playoff teams (Puck Daddy)/