The Rangers may not be one of the several NHL teams still battling to qualify for the playoffs, like their opponents on Thursday in the Flyers, but they are still playing for something.

Finishing out this regular season in a way that properly honors it — as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference or as the Presidents’ Trophy winner or both — matters to this Blueshirts team, which lost a step in its pursuit of such accomplishments in a 4-1 loss to the Flyers in front of a hushed Garden crowd Thursday night.

At the beginning of the week, the Rangers needed to pick up four points over their final four games to secure both the division and the conference.

Now, they’ll have to win their final two games in order to accomplish these apparent goals.

As much as it’s about winning as many games as possible this time of year, as well as wanting optimal playoff position, any of the aforementioned accolades would do so much more than just fill the trophy case for this Rangers team.

Stiff-arming the Hurricanes for the Metropolitan Division crown for the first time in three years would mean something to them.

Earning the top seed in the East could have a lasting effect on the Rangers’ psyche.

Any of it could be just what the Rangers need to fuel up on confidence before a very important postseason.

The Rangers’ short-term goals are still in play, and they control their own destiny.

Still three points up on Carolina in the division, the Rangers also have one point on the Stars for the No. 1 spot in the NHL before Dallas wrapped up its game against the Jets.