The 2012–13 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 86th season of play and their 87th season overall. The regular season was reduced from its usual 82 games to 48 due to a lockout. The lockout ended on January 5 when the NHL and NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) reached an agreement. The Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, but were defeated by the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. After the Rangers' season ended, John Tortorella was fired as head coach. Off-season After speculation that began during the 2011–12 season, Rick Nash was traded to the Rangers in a blockbuster trade on July 23, 2012, giving the Rangers the much-needed scoring winger they were seeking. The Rangers sent forwards Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round draft pick in 2013 to the Blue Jackets in exchange. The Rangers also received minor league defenseman Steven Delisle and a conditional third-round draft pick in 2013 (the condition being that the Rangers make the Stanley Cup Finals in 2013) from Columbus. Nash had been on the trading block since the February 2012 trade deadline, after Nash had requested a trade out of Columbus. On September 15, the collective bargaining agreement expired and the NHL owners locked-out the league. Pre-season The New York Rangers were scheduled to play six exhibition games (all on the road) prior to the beginning of the regular season, but due to the ongoing labor negotiations between the League and the players resulting in a lockout, the NHL cancelled all preseason games in September on September 19. The Rangers were scheduled to play the New Jersey Devils on September 26 (in Albany) and on September 28, and the Philadelphia Flyers on September 29. Later, on September 27, the NHL cancelled the remainder of the pre-season. The Rangers were scheduled to play the New York Islanders on October 4, the Colorado Avalanche on October 6 (in Kansas City, Missouri) and the Los Angeles Kings on October 8. 2012–13 NHL Lockout On October 4, the first two weeks of the 2012–13 season was cancelled due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout. Cancellations would continue until games for the 2012–13 season were cancelled through January 14, 2013, on December 20, 2012. This was the last set of game cancellations before the NHL and NHLPA came to an agreement on a new CBA on January 6,