from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

The Rangers’ revival may have hit a speed bump at the Garden on Tuesday night with a 2-1 defeat to the Lightning, but the 8-3-1 run into a playoff position, albeit mighty tenuous, has implications beyond the standings.

For if Glen Sather had ever been tempted to be a seller rather than a buyer leading up to the March 5 trade deadline, it isn’t realistic to expect the general manager to adopt that stance now, even if that might still be the wisest course of action over the long run.

Of course, depending on one’s perspectives, “long run” could have alternate meanings. One would apply to the long run over the course of the next five-to-eight years. The other would apply to a long run in this year’s playoffs.

Sands are passing through the hourglass for Sather, who celebrated his 70th birthday in September and is completing his 14th year and 13th season as GM in New York. The Rangers have won five playoff rounds in his tenure, advancing to the Eastern finals once, two seasons ago before losing in an upset to the Devils.

This year’s conference is notably weak below top dogs Pittsburgh and Boston.

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