The 2001–02 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 76th season. During the regular season, the Rangers finished fourth in the Atlantic Division, compiling a 36–38–4–4 record. Their 11th-place finish in the Eastern Conference kept them out of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight season. Head coach Ron Low was fired after the season.
Pre-season
On September 20, 2001, in the middle of a 2–2 game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, the game was stopped. A message from United States President George W. Bush about the September 11 attacks was broadcast on the arena video screen. After the message, the game did not resume and it was declared a 2–2 tie.
Regular season
The Rangers struggled in short-handed situations, finishing the regular season with the most power-play opportunities against (398), the most power-play goals allowed (80) and the lowest penalty-kill percentage (79.90%).
Final standings
Schedule and results
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1 || October 5, 2001 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || 0–1–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2 || October 7, 2001 || Buffalo Sabres || 5–4 OT || 1–1–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 3 || October 10, 2001 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || 1–2–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 4 || October 13, 2001 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–2 OT || 1–2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 5 || October 15, 2001 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || 2–2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 6 || October 17, 2001 || New Jersey Devils || 4–3 OT || 3–2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 7 || October 19, 2001 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 4–3 || 4–2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 8 || October 20, 2001 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–2 || 4–3–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 9 || October 22, 2001 || San Jose Sharks || 5–1 || 4–4–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 10 || October 25, 2001 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–1 || 4–5–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 11 || October 27, 2001 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–1 OT || 5–5–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 12 || October 29, 2001 || Dallas Stars || 4–2 || 6–5–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 13 || October 31, 2001 || Florida Panthers || 3–1 || 6–6–1–0 || |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 14 || November 2, 2001 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–2 || 6–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 15 || November 3, 2001 || @ Florida Panthers || 5–3 || 7–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 16 || November 6, 2001 || Minnesota Wild || 3–1 || 8–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 17 || November 8, 2001 || @ New York Islanders || 6–2 || 9–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 18 || November 10, 2001 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 10–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 19 || November 11, 2001 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 OT || 11–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 20 || November 14, 2001 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 12–7–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" | 21 || November 17, 2001 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 OT || 12–7–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 22 || November 18, 2001 || Atlanta Thrashers || 6–2 || 13–7–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 23 || November 20, 2001 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–3 || 14–7–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 24 || November 23, 2001 || @ Washington Capitals || 6–2 || 14–8–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 25 || November 25, 2001 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–2 || 14–9–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 26 || November 27, 2001 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–2 OT || 14–9–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 27 || November 29, 2001 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–0 || 15–9–2–1 || |-