New York Rangers: Playoff Picture/Lottery Look/WJC Recap for Sunday, January 6

The New York Rangers go to Arizona nine points out of a playoff spot, but only six points better than the worst team in the league.  Which direction are they headed?

Before we get to the New York Rangers and their drive for the playoffs/fight for the top lottery position we’ll wrap up the WJC Tournament, a showcase for four Ranger prospects, maybe more.  It was the last night of the tournament and there was an unexpected result.

WJC Final Update

Team USA couldn’t get it done and lost 3-2 to Finland in the gold medal game at the WJC tournament.  Finnish star prospect Kaapo Kakko scored with 1:26 left in the game.  So, the consensus second overall pick (Kakko), beat the consensus top pick (Jack Hughes).   If you are a Ranger fan thirsting for a top lottery pick, you cannot miss with these two guys.

Ranger prospect K’Andre Miller played 10:15 for USA and had no points.  It was a quiet tournament for Miller who was hampered by the flu.  He will be eligible to play in this tournament next year and he will be one of the team leaders next year if he lives up to expectations.

In the Bronze Medal game, Russia beat Switzerland convincingly, 5-2. Ranger first rounder Vitali Kravtsov was held off the scoresheet.  He finished the tournament with two goals and four assists, 18th best at the WJC.  Swiss defenseman and Ranger prospect Nico Gross had an assist on one of the two Swiss goals. He finished with two assists and should play for Switzerland next year.

The next time we see Vitali Kravtsov will probably be this spring if he comes over to North American after the KHL season ends.   He will probably sign a PTO and get some experience on North American ice in a handful of games.  Any more than that and he will burn a year and the Rangers will be required to protect him in the Seattle expansion draft.

The Playoff Picture

A big night if you are a New York fan….oops, a New York Islander fan.  With Montreal losing to Nashville and the Islanders beating St. Louis, the Isles vaulted into the first wild card spot, passing both Montreal and Buffalo.

That means that the New York Rangers are now nine points out of the last wild card spot, currently occupied by Buffalo. The Rangers do have two games in hand on the Sabres.   Buffalo lost a key match-up with Boston and have won only three out of their last ten.  If they keep fading (and that is a definite possibility considering their history) it keeps the Rangers’ hopes alive.

By beating the Sabres, the Bruins solidified their playoff position.  Montreal lost to the Predators and did themselves no favors (and dropped out of a playoff spot).

Columbus beat Florida in overtime and stayed out of the wild card and in third place in the Metropolitan Division.  The Met Division has the top four teams two points apart.  Sick.

By getting to overtime with the Blue Jackets, the Panthers moved into a tie with the Rangers and have played on fewer game.  If that matters.

Oh yeah, the Sharks beat the Lightning and dealt Tampa their first regulation loss in 17 games.

The standings

Atlantic Div.  GP    W-L-OTL      PTS    ROW
Tampa             42       32-8-2         66      29
Toronto           41      27-12-2       56      27
Boston            42      24-14-4       52      23
Met Div.         GP      W-L-OTL     PTS   ROW
Washington   40      24-12-4       52     21
Pittsburgh     41      23-12-6        52     22
Columbus       41      24-14-3       51     24
Wild Card       GP       W-L-OTL      PTS  ROW
Islanders        40       23-13-4      50     21
Buffalo            42      22-14-6       50     19
Contenders   GP      W-L-OTL      PTS  ROW
Montreal         42      22-15-5       49     20
Carolina          40       18-17-5       41     17
Rangers         40        17-16-7      41     12
Florida            39        17-16-7      41     15
New Jersey    39       16-17-7       39     15
Detroit            43       16-20-7       39     14
Philadelphia  41       15-20-6       36     13
Ottawa           42       15-22-5       35     15

Who to root for

Rangers @ Coyotes – Do I dare say a “must” win?  This is the only one of the three games on this road trip that they should win. Let’s see how they rebound from the debacle in Colorado.

Hurricanes @ Senators – The Canes are tied with the Rangers and we don’t want to have to pass another team to get into the playoffs, so root for Ottawa (helps the Rangers’ lottery aspirations too)

Capitals @ Red Wings and Blackhawks @ Penguins.  At this point, Ranger fans have to root against any of the teams ahead of the Blueshirts in the standings.  These two games are in that category so root for the Red Wings and Chicago.  Upsets in these games help the lottery look as well.

Nine points out of playoff spot is not a good place to be.  The only hope is that Buffalo hasn’t been through the playoff wars and could falter.  Less of a chance of that happening with Columbus or any of the top Met Division teams, but Ranger fans can dream, right?

If you are not the dreaming type, keep reading for a look at how tonight’s games impacted the race for the top lottery pick.