NHL: Eastern Conference Playoff Picture, Scenarios

Apr 6, 2015; New York, NY, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate their overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Rangers possibilities of first-round opponents has now been cut down to five teams. What about the entire Eastern Conference though?

There’s no question about it: defending a championship is tough.

This sentiment especially hits home hard when realizing the National Hockey League’s hard salary-cap has created a “Parity-Giant” of a situation. Any of the 16 playoff teams can make a run for the ages and force an imprint of their names on that Stanley Cup.

Eyes On Isles

Look no further than the Los Angeles Kings from a season ago. As a No. 8 seed, the tried and tested group in LA picked up their second cup in the last three seasons.

It’s actually obscene these days. Not only did the Kings come up with that feat, they were down 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks in the first-round.

The new system has led to an overly exciting product on the ice.

This is not great news for any Presidents’ Trophy winner. In fact, only eight times in history has the Presidents’ Trophy winner won the cup since the award’s inception in 1985. One of these occasions was in 1994.

Nevertheless, there’s no arguing the New York Rangers are entering the 2015 playoffs in a much better spot than they did a season ago.

Last year we witnessed Ryan McDonagh struggle in the first-round of the playoffs after getting back from a long injury absence. The team also had to endure without one of their bigger bodies in Chris Kreider.

It’s about time Rangers fans can relax a bit before entering the most anxious days of the year.

Apr 9, 2015; New York, NY, USA; NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly presents the Presidents Trophy to New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh prior to the game against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The Blueshirts were so good this season that they are now afforded the luxury of resting guys – aside from Henrik Lundqvist, of course, who provided us all heart-palpitations Thursday night against Ottawa.

But I digress.

Even though it’s just the Prince of Wales trophy, the Rangers will be hard-pressed to duplicate the magic we saw during the Spring of 2014.

You don’t think a championship is tough to defend? Tell that to the Kings who were just eliminated from playoff contention.

So, as Alain Vigneault and his crew take a gander at the path ahead of them, all he sees are clouds. With only two days left in the regular season, we still don’t know the Rangers first-round opponent.

Furthermore, the Eastern Conference is a fog of smoke; as anybody’s guess could be the correct one.

The next five slides will take you through the Eastern Conference Playoff Picture, Scenarios, and delving into the specifics as it pertains to each of the possible first-round matchups for the Blueshirts.

Here we go:

Next: Eastern Conference Playoff Picture and Scenarios

May 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; The New York Rangers pose with the Prince of Whales Trophy after beating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

Even though it’s only the Prince of Wales trophy, the idea of how tough it is to defend a championship still rings true.

The Rangers right now have one game left, and are waiting around to see which of the five possible opponents will come to Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the first-round.

As far as the rest of the East is concerned, here’s what it currently looks like:

***Legend: PTS=Points, ROW=Regulation and Overtime Wins, GR=Games Remaining (ROW is the first tiebreaker if PTS are even)

Metropolitan Division:

Mar 19, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) before the game against Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

1. New York Rangers – 111 PTS, 52 ROW, 1 GR
2. Washington Capitals – 101 PTS, 45 ROW, 1 GR
3. New York Islanders – 98 PTS, 46 ROW, 2 GR

Atlantic Division:

1. Montreal Canadiens – 108 PTS, 49 ROW, 1 GR
2. Tampa Bay Lightning – 106 PTS, 49 ROW, 1 GR
3. Detroit Red Wings – 98 PTS, 42 ROW, 1 GR

Wild Cards:

1. Ottawa Senators – 97 PTS, 42 ROW, 1 GR
2. Pittsburgh Penguins – 96 PTS, 42 ROW, 2 GR
3. Boston Bruins – 95 PTS, 41 ROW, 1 GR

Matchups If Playoffs Ended Now:

• Metro 1: Rangers vs. Wild Card 2: Penguins
• Metro 2: Capitals vs. Metro 3: Islanders
• Atlantic 1: Canadiens vs. Wild Card 1: Senators
• Atlantic 2: Lighting vs. Atlantic 3: Red Wings

Here’s What We Know:

Everybody has clinched a playoff spot except the Senators, Penguins and of course Bruins, who find themselves on the outside looking in at the moment.

Rangers will be matched-up with the second Wild Card team, which are the Pens right now.

The game between the Penguins and the Islanders on Friday night will be ultra critical in determining how the East will shake out.

All 30 NHL teams end the regular season on Saturday with a game.

The Rangers game against the Capitals on Saturday means nothing for the Rangers – it could mean something for the Capitals in maintaining home ice advantage (If Islanders win Friday night).

Most likely, the Lightning and Red Wings will be matched-up in the first round because the Canadiens play the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (which should lock up the Atlantic Division championship), and the Red Wings will probably take care of the Hurricanes.

Even if the Penguins do lose Friday night against the Isles, because they play the terrible Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, they’ll most likely find a way in.

More from Rangers News

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• Chris Kreider has had quite the Summer
• Andy Hosler Takes Helm as Head Athletic Trainer for the New York Rangers, Succeeding Jim Ramsay

Scenarios:

• If the Islanders pickup one-point in their final two-games, the Rangers will not see them in the first-round.
• The Islanders need three-points in their final two-games and the Caps to lose to the Rangers on Saturday to pickup home-ice advantage; or grab four-points and have the Caps only collect a single-point against the Rangers.
• The Penguins control their own destiny to make the playoffs and finish as the No. 1 Wild Card or even the No 3 seed in Metropolitan Division (if Isles lose on Saturday also) because they have two games remaining.
• If the Penguins do win their last two games, the Rangers will play either the Senators or Bruins.
• The Senators will clinch a playoff spot win one-point against the Flyers.
• The Bruins need to defeat the Lightning on Saturday and need major help to make the playoffs (they finished 1-1-1 against the Penguins which would only come into play if PTS and ROW are tied). So, it would actually move to the tiebreaker that comes after Head to Head if Pens pick up only one-point in last two-games and Boston wins on Saturday.
• If Bruins win on Saturday and Senators lose to Flyers, the Bruins would make it in over the Sens (they finished 2-1 against the Sens this season – PTS and ROW would be tied).

Schedule:

• Friday, April 10: Islanders @ Penguins, 7 pm ET
• Saturday, April 11: Senators @ Flyers, 12:30 pm ET
• Saturday, April 11: Rangers @ Capitals, 12:30 pm ET
• Saturday, April 11: Red Wings @ Hurricanes, 7 pm ET
• Saturday, April 11: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs, 7 pm ET
• Saturday, April 11: Penguins @ Sabres, 7 pm ET
• Saturday, April 11: Bruins @ Lightning, 7 pm ET

It is impossible to know who the Rangers will be playing. It’s even difficult to have a leader in the clubhouse at this point.

The Penguins playing the awful Sabres on Saturday gives us a pretty good idea they’ll at least grab two-points over these next two days. But, what’s going to happen in tonight’s game with the Pens and Isles is anyone’s guess.

Think of it this way:

• If the Penguins grab at least a point Friday night against the Isles, then the Rangers will most likely play the Senators or the Bruins.
• If the Pens don’t pick up any points Friday night, then it’s anybody best guess between the three teams.
• My money is on the Senators to be the Rangers first-round opponent.
• Because the Pens will pick up two points on Saturday, and tonight they have point possibilities, it should catapult them over Ottawa. Then, those Philadelphia Flyers will have a huge say on who New York will face in first round. If Philly beats Ottawa, and the Bruins defeat the Lightning, then Boston will be coming to New York for Round 1.
• If you’re one that doesn’t want to see Boston, then hope either Tampa Bay can knock them off on Saturday; and/or the Sens beat the Flyers; and/or the Penguins pick up some points so they don’t fall out of the picture all together.

Now, let’s discuss each potential first-round matchup:

Next: The Igloo Is Seeing Blue

Mar 29, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) waits to take a face-off against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Rangers went 3-0 against the Penguins this season.
• If the Penguins pick up four-points or three-points and two victories over their final two-games, then the Rangers will not see them.
• Playing Buffalo on Saturday, one would think two-points are guaranteed.

These Pittsburgh Penguins are not the same championship squad we saw years ago.

Last year proved it.

Having the Rangers on the brink of elimination, Sidney Crosby and company couldn’t seal the deal. The news surrounding Marty St. Louis’ mother galvanized the once “dead in the water” club.

Pittsburgh represents a team right now that Rangerstown welcomes into Madison Square Garden with no fear.

the Penguins have been fading fast. With a 3-5-2 record over their last 10 games, perhaps no team this side of the Islanders are playing worse. Evgeni Malkin has sever injury concerns and the play of Marc-Andre Fluery in past postseasons is laughable.

Many Rangers fans feel that only Crosby represents anything that would scare them coming out of Pittsburgh.

Next: Time To Eat Up Some Burgers

Apr 7, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond (30) makes a save in the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Penguins 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Ottawa Senators

• Rangers went 2-1 against the Senators this season.
• Depending on what happens with the Penguins, the Senators can finish either as the No. 1 or No. 2 Wild Card.
• If they defeat the Flyers on Saturday (2 points), they will make the playoffs. Only way they don’t make it is if they pick up no points and Bruins pick up two-points, while the Penguins handle their business the right way.

There is no hotter team in the NHL right now than the Ottawa Senators. Not only are they hot, their goalie eats hamburgers.

At the same time, most Rangers fans wouldn’t view them as a seriously troubling first-round opponent.

The reason? Because they are less threatening than the alternative.

Yes, goalie Andrew Hammond has been nothing short of a revelation for the franchise. His 19-1 record, 1.82 goals against average and 9.39 save percentage are ungodly numbers.

However, his one loss came at the hands of the best team in the NHL, the New York Rangers.

If you are under the belief the Penguins will handle their business, and the Flyers provide a tough-out on Saturday against the Sens (where the game goes down to the wire), then chances are the Senators will be the Rangers first-round opponent.

That scenario is scary though, because it leaves the door open for that team in New England.

Next: Oh oh, It's Rivalry Time

Mar 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Islanders beat the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

New York Islanders

• Rangers went 2-3 against the Islanders this season
• The Islanders have already clinched a playoff spot and are only playing the string out for home-ice advantage.
• The only chance they face the Rangers in the first round will be if they pick up zero points over their last two games, and the Penguins pick up three-points over their last two-games.

It’s funny, one of the few teams the Blushirts have a losing record against this season comes in the form of the New York Islanders.

A couple of months ago the though of having to play these guys in the first-round was a scary thought.

What a difference a couple of months make.

Much like the Penguins, the Islanders have been brutal as of late. They also sport a 3-5-2 record heading into the “struggle game” tonight.

Since the Rangers defeated them in that last head to head matchup, the squad has been below average – just barely hanging on for dear life.

It’s possibly only the motivational factor of an intense rivalry could make this first-round series be a long and difficult one for the Rangers.

Next: The Heart of a Champion

Mar 31, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) skates past the bench after a goal was scored during the first period against the Florida Panthers at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins

• Rangers went 1-2 against the Bruins this season
• The Bruins are the lone potential matchup sitting on the outside of the playoffs at the moment.
• To get in, they’ll need a victory against the Lightning on Saturday and major help coming in the form of a Senators zero-point effort, or the Penguins completely crapping the bed.

There’s no question, the Boston Bruins are the scariest potential first-round matchup for the Rangers.

These guys still have the heart of a champion and would never die easily. So many times in the past they have overcome ridiculous last minute minute deficits.

Injuries have hurt them this season, there’s no doubt about it.

Tuukka Rask is not a goaltender you want to see in the playoffs, no less the first-round. Having to play the Bruins in the first-round of the playoffs would be a major injustice for a Presidents’ Trophy winner.

Additionally, it was the Bruins who handled the Rangers a few weeks back when Henrik Lundqvist enjoyed his return to the lineup.

For the season, New York scored five goals while the Bruins pumped in nine during the three games the two teams were matched up.

Next: An Octopus Type Playoffs?