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New York Rangers: Playoff Picture/Lottery Look for Saturday, January 5

By Steve Paulus

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 04: Adam McQuaid #54 and Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers confer before a faceoff against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on January 04, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 04: Adam McQuaid #54 and Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers confer before a faceoff against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on January 04, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 4: Goaltender Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save against Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 4: Goaltender Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save against Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center on January 4, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Lottery Look

If the Rangers keep getting blown out, the Lottery Look will take over the primary position on this post.

There were only four games with lottery implications and the results were mostly good for the Rangers in their quest for a better lottery position.  They moved from 13th worst to 10th worst after all of tonight’s games were concluded.

The Hurricanes upset the Blue Jackets and Blue Jackets and moved into a tie with the Rangers, though they have a better record through tiebreakers.   They are 11th worst in the league now.

It took overtime, but the Red Wings upset the Pedators,  Detroit now has only two fewer points than the Rangers, but they have played 43 games to the Rangers’ 40.

Just like the Wings, the Devils moved within two points of the Rangers with their shootout win over the Coyotes.  Both team getting points helps New York as Arizona is within four points of the Blueshirts.

In the last game that matters, the Dallas Stars upset the Capitals.  It gives the Stars 48 points and they are opening up a decent cushion between them and the Rangers.

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. Chicago             43      15-21-7      37     15
6. Arizona             41      17-21-3      37     15
7.  Detroit             43      16-20-7       39     14
8. New Jersey     39       16-17-7       39     15
9. Florida              38       17-16-6      40     15
10. Rangers         40       17-16-7      41     12
11. Carolina         40       18-17-5       41     17
12. Edmonton     40       19-18-3      41      18
13. Minnesota     39      19-17-3      41      19
14. Vancouver     44      20-20-4       44      19
15. Dallas             42        23-16-3     48      22

Who to root for:

Flames @ Flyers,  Canucks @ Maple Leafs –   The Rangers need two upsets for teams below the them in the standings.

Wild @ Senators – The Rangers need Ottawa to win more than Minnesota, but overtime would be nice.

Oilers @ Kings – Ditto on this game, the Rangers need the Kings to lose more than Edmonton, but either team losing doesn’t hurt.  At least they can get to overtime.

Blue Jackets @ Panthers  –  Florida will pass the Rangers if they win…so root for the Panthers.

Islanders @ Blues  –   We hate the Islanders and want St. Louis to pass the Rangers so root for St. Louis to win at home.

dark. Next. Time to raise the white flag

It was status quo in the playoff race after Friday’s action, but there was some movement in the lottery competition.   The Rangers remain only six points better than the worst team in the league.

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