The Rangers brought a Hobbit into their house Wednesday, signing Swedish League MVP Matt Zuccarello Aasen, a small Norwegian winger who made a big name for himself this past season.

Tuesday, as the Rangers packed up their practice rink in Greenburgh, John Tortorella backed his goaltender by blasting his top players - Henrik Lundqvist very much excluded - for their no-shows with the season on the line.

John Tortorella will be back next season. The question over a long summer on Broadway is, which Ranger team will join him? Will it be the deep and cohesive group that ran off a 7-1-1 stretch to get to Philadelphia for an all-or-nothing showdown on the final day of the season?

Defenseman Matt Carle scored the game-tying goal 6:54 into the third period before Claude Giroux drove a stake into the 2009-10 Rangers with the winning goal in the shootout. Brian Boucher then stopped Olli Jokinen to end the Rangers’ season.

There are no more back doors now, no more help to be had. The 255th meeting between the Rangers and Flyers puts both teams’ 2009-10 seasons on the line, and for the Rangers, it boils down simply: Win and they’re in. Lose and they’re going home.

The Rangers are still alive and very much kicking. And in a bit of scheduling serendipity, it comes down to this: a home-and-home series between the Rangers and Flyers, Friday night on Broadway and Sunday on Broad St., with a playoff berth on the line.

The most direct scenario for the Rangers (84 points) to make the playoff is simple: Beat the Flyers (86 points) twice, with at least one win in regulation, and they’re in. If the Bruins lose their final two games, the Blueshirts will sneak in, but a loss ends any shot of postseason play.

With their chances at the playoffs hanging in the balance, the Rangers turned in a dominating 5-1 thumping of the Maple Leafs Wednesday at the Garden. In doing so, the Rangers made this weekend’s home-and-home series with the Flyers mean everything.

Ryan Callahan, the Rangers’ workhorse winger, made a surprise appearance on the practice rink Monday, his first time skating since his left knee injury was aggravated against the Devils on March 25. He skated fluidly and looked comfortable during the practice.

Ryan Callahan, the Rangers’ workhorse winger, made a surprise appearance on the practice rink Monday, his first time skating since his left knee injury was aggravated against the Devils on March 25. He skated fluidly and looked comfortable during the practice.