NEW YORK -- At least this time it wasn't for the Stanley Cup.

In fact, as bad as the New York Rangers looked Tuesday night in a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, this one game figures to have little to no impact on whether the Rangers can win the Cup this June. They can't be happy with losing to the Kings, just like last season's Stanley Cup finals, but the impact just isn't the same.

The Kings controlled play for most of the night, at least after the Rangers scored in the game's first minute. At times, the Rangers had trouble simply getting the puck out of their own zone.

The win means a lot more to the Kings, who are battling for the final playoff spot in the West, than the loss means to the Rangers. The Rangers' magic number to clinch a playoff spot remained stuck at four, with 10 games still on the schedule.

The defense rests: Before Tuesday, the Rangers had played 11 games this month and had allowed just 10 goals in regulation time, never more than two in one game. The streak ended with a game in which they handed the Kings plenty of chances -- and eventually a third goal. Jeff Carter scored when he was allowed to set up by himself at the far post, at 1:05 of the third period.

The Kings added a fourth goal 4½ minutes later. The Rangers also gave up four on Feb. 28 in Philadelphia.

Desperate times: The Rangers expected the Kings' best on Tuesday, just as they'll expect the Senators' best on Thursday in Ottawa and the Bruins' best on Saturday in Boston. All three of this week's opponents are in desperate fights for a playoff spot. The Kings entered play Tuesday four points behind Winnipeg in the race for the final spot in the West. Boston trails Ottawa by one point for the final spot in the East.

Miller time: When the Rangers lost Martin St. Louis to a knee injury, coach Alain Vigneault used the opportunity to shake up his top two lines. J.T. Miller ended up with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello, and the combination seems to be working. Zuccarello scored the Rangers' first goal Tuesday after Miller won a battle in the corner with Drew Doughty.

Miller and Zuccarello both have points in each of the past three games. Zuccarello has 21 points in the past 26 games.

That line was on the ice, however, when Marian Gaborik scored to break the 1-1 tie in the second period.

What's next: The Rangers have their only full practice of the week Wednesday, with Henrik Lundqvist taking part. Vigneault said it would be "a reach" for Lundqvist to play Thursday night in Ottawa. He's more likely to return this weekend, when the Rangers will be at Boston on Saturday and at home against the Washington Capitals on Sunday.