New York Rangers Playoff Picture/Lottery Look for Friday, January 4
There were eight games in the NHL Thursday night and they all didn’t go as you would expect. As a result, there were some changes in the standings, both for the playoffs and for the draft lottery.
The Eastern Division playoff race got a little tighter for the teams at the top, while there weren’t many change for the teams out of a playoff spot. For the Rangers, it was a bad night as they lost ground in the playoff race and are now eight points out of the wild card and third place in the Metropolitan Division.
As far as the Jack Hughes Sweepstakes, the Rangers remain the 13th worst team in the league, but some of the teams below them gained some ground.
WJC Schedule
Probably the best hockey game of the night will be the match between Team USA and Russia at the WJC Tournament. They are the two strongest teams left and the likelihood is that the winner will take the golf medal. K’Andre Miller and Team USA will have their work cut out for them as Russia is the only undefeated team left and leads all remaining teams in scoring and defense.
Vitali Kravtsov sustained a hand injury in the second period on Wednesday, but according to Russian coaches, he was taken out of the game as a precaution. Kravtsov has two goals and four assists for six points in five games and has been centering the Russian top line.
The other game is between Finland and Switzerland, the giant killers of the tournament. Ranger draftee Nico Gross is on the Swiss team. Here is the schedule:
Friday, January 4 (both games televised on NHL Network)
4pm – United States (K’Andre Miller) vs. Russia (Vitali Kravtsov)
8pm – Finland vs. Switzerland (Nico Gross)
The Playoff Picture
Six of the eight teams in playoff position in the East played on Thursday night. Washington was the only team that lost. There was no change in the standings, but every team except Washington, Pittsburgh and Columbus gained two points on the Rangers.
To make matters worse, the Islanders also won in overtime and are now seven points ahead of the Rangers. The Blueshirts began the evening six points out of the wild card and they are now eight points out since Montreal won. They are in danger of being passed by Carolina, who won, and Florida, who lost. At any rate, to state the obvious, thee more points between the Rangers and a playoff spot, the harder it will be to make up the gap .
The standings
Atlantic Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS ROW
Tampa 41 32-7-2 66 29
Toronto 40 26-12-2 54 26
Boston 41 23-14-4 50 22
Met Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS ROW
Washington 39 24-12-3 51 21
Pittsburgh 40 22-12-6 50 21
Columbus 39 23-13-3 49 23
Wild Card GP W-L-OTL PTS ROW
Buffalo 41 22-13-6 50 19
Montreal 41 22-14-5 49 20
Contenders GP W-L-OTL PTS ROW
Islanders 39 22-13-4 48 20
Rangers 39 17-15-7 41 12
Florida 38 17-16-6 40 15
Carolina 39 17-17-5 39 16
New Jersey 38 15-17-7 37 15
Detroit 42 15-20-7 37 13
Philadelphia 40 15-20-5 35 13
Ottawa 41 15-21-5 35 15
Who to root for
Obviously, a Ranger upset of the Avalanche on the road is needed, but there are two other key games worth watching.
Jets @ Penguins -This game will be a test of the Penguins. The Rangers need the teams ahead of them to lose some games. This one would be a good start.
Blue Jackets @ Hurricanes – Columbus is another team that has been winning. A collapse and losing streak by the Blue Jackets (they’ve done it before) would help a lot. Carolina has a lot of their own playoff hopes at stake in this game. Root for the Hurricanes.
With the despair over Wednesday’s loss to Pittsburgh, the lottery look is becoming more and more relevant. If you are concerned about how bad the Rangers can be, read on.
The Lottery Look
Still 13th from the bottom, the Rangers are still only six points better than the worst in the league. The good news for lottery prospects is that there were some upsets.
The teams below the Rangers that won include St. Louis who stunned the Capitals 5-2 and the Wild who edged Toronto 4-3. That moved the Blues out of last place into 4th from last and it moved Minnesota into a virtual tie with the Rangers. Though 13th from the bottom due to games played, the Rangers have the same number of points (41) as Edmonton and Minnesota. In essence, the Rangers are 11th from the bottom.
As far as teams worse than the Rangers, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Florida all lost. Chicago lost, but in overtime so they edged one point closer to New York. Carolina won and are now only two points behind the Blueshirts. It’s getting tighter.
The standings (worst is first)
Teams GP W-L-OTL PTS ROW
1. Los Angeles 42 16-23-3 35 15
2. Ottawa 41 15-21-5 35 15
3. Philadelphia 39 15-20-5 35 13
4. St Louis 38 16-18-4 36 16
5. Arizona 40 17-21-2 36 15
6. Chicago 43 15-21-7 37 15
7. New Jersey 38 15-17-7 37 15
8. Detroit 42 15-20-7 37 13
9. Carolina 39 17-17-5 39 16
10. Florida 38 17-16-6 40 15
11. Edmonton 40 19-18-3 41 18
12. Minnesota 39 19-17-3 41 19
13. Rangers 39 17-15-7 41 12
14. Vancouver 44 20-20-4 44 19
15. Dallas 41 22-16-3 46 21
Who to root for:
There are only four games with lottery implications (besides the Ranger game). One game is between two of those teams and upsets are needed in the other three.
Blue Jackets @ Hurricanes – If the Canes win and the Rangers lose, they are tied in the standings. A Carolina win helps the Ranger in the lottery race AND their bid for the playoffs. Root for Carolina big time.
Predators @ Red Wings – If Detroit can upset the Predators at home, they could be only two points behind the Blueshirts.
Devils @ Coyotes – Pick ’em. Both teams are worst the the Rangers. Hope for an overtime game.
Capitals @ Stars – Dallas has opened up a five point cushion between them and the Rangers, but have played two more games. A Washington win would help here.
Next. Time to raise the white flag. dark
Only six points separate the 13 teams at the bottom of the NHL standings. It’s going to be a dogfight for the top lottery position. How important is positioning? According tankathom.com, the Rangers currently have a 6.6% shot at a top three pick and a 2% chance at the first pick overall. A finish third from the worst raises those odds to 33.9% for a top three and 11.5% for the top pick.