open mike Mike Vaccaro New York’s miserable 2026 injury bug inflicts the Rangers at the cruelest time By Mike Vaccaro Published Oct. 10, 2026, 5:51 p.m. ET New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, third from left, is helped to the bench after he was injured during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Washington. AP Photo/Nick Wass As a sports fan, you believe in the moment that nothing is worse than a playoff run ending earlier than it’s supposed to. And, of course, most playoff runs end earlier than they’re supposed to. The ones that last until a parade are the outliers.
Mostly, you are treated to a string of dyspeptic and disappointing final chapters, like the one the Yankees gave us this week. And make no mistake, that one doesn’t sit well, and won’t for a while — especially if we’re forced to sit and stew about it while the billionaires and the millionaires argue over how to split up their golden goose over the next few months.
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But there are worse things than seasons that don’t end well.
Such as a season that never really gets a fair crack to start at all.
