NHL

Rangers playing for Presidents’ Trophy

The Rangers already may have clinched the top spot in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for in tonight’s regular season finale against the Capitals at Madison Square Garden.

With a win over Washington, the Rangers can claim the President’s’ Trophy as the league’s best regular-season team. That’s a goal even coach John Tortorella — who has made it his mission all season long to make his team focus on nothing but the next game — admitted was worth thinking about.

“We want to win that hockey game,” he said. “It’s our last game before we really get going.

“I think there is a little bit of incentive there, so we want to win that hockey game, including me.”

Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t shy about expressing his desire to walk away with the Presidents’ Trophy, either.

“I would be really proud to accomplish that,” he said. You want to win every game, but [tonight] we have a chance to do something special.”

Lundqvist sat out Thursday’s loss to the Penguins after he was hit on the right forearm by a slap shot from Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux late in the second period of Tuesday’s 5-3 conference-clinching win over the Flyers. But Lundqvist said his arm, which he described as “pretty stiff” after Thursday’s morning skate, was fine, and he’d like to be between the pipes tonight against the Capitals.

“It’s almost a week until the next game, so it’d be nice to get back out there,” he said.

Derek Stepan appears to have avoid serious injury after being kneed by Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik late in the third period of Thursday’s loss to the Penguins.

“I rode with him here today,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “He’s a little sore, but I don’t think it’s going to be anything serious. It’s just a matter of getting back to close to 100 percent.”

Though the league didn’t meet with Orpik — who was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct — about the hit, Stepan wasn’t on the ice for yesterday’s practice. Artem Anisimov and Ryan Callahan initially skated without a third linemate until John Scott eventually took Stepan’s place.

“[I] just gave him a day off, and [head athletic trainer Jim Ramsay] is working with him,” said Tortorella, who was later fined $20,000 by the NHL for his comments regarding Orpik’s hit after Thursday’s game.

The Rangers still could play one of three opponents in the first round of the playoffs. If they beat the Capitals tonight, they definitely will face Washington. Nevertheless, if the Rangers lose and Florida loses to Carolina, they will face the Panthers. The Rangers also could face Ottawa if the Rangers lose to the Capitals, the Panthers earn at least a point against the Hurricanes and the Senators lose to the Devils at Prudential Center.