The NHL knows better than to compete with the big game, but there were three matinees today and a little movement in the lottery standings to the benefit of the New York Rangers.
On the playoff front, Montreal won and Boston beat Washington so no change in the standings and the Rangers remain eight points behind idle Columbus. The Hurricanes had a chance to move up close to a playoff spot, but lost.
The lottery look
Only two lottery teams in action this Sunday and both teams lost (though one team went to overtime).  There was no change in the lottery standings for the Rangers as they are ninth from the bottom, but eight teams are separated by three points. Now that’s tight.
Edmonton lost to Montreal in overtime 4-3.  They still gained a point and that gives them 51 on the season and that ties them with the Rangers, Anaheim, Arizona and St. Louis. The Ducks and Oilers have both played 52 games with the other teams (including the Rangers) at 51 so Anaheim and Edmonton are lower than the Rangers in the standings.
Carolina was the other lottery team in action and they lost to Calgary. They remain just outside the playoff picture with 56 points, five more than the Rangers.
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams         GP     W-L-OTL   PTS  ROW
1. Ottawa        52    19-28-5   43   19
2. Los Angeles   51    20-27-4   44   19
3. New Jersey    51   20-24-7    47   19
4. Chicago        53   19-24-10  48   19
5. Detroit        53   21-25-7   49   19
6. Florida        49   21-21-8    50   19
7. Edmonton     52    23-24-5   51   21
8. Anaheim      52    21-22-9   51   18
9. Rangers      51    22-22-7   51   17
10. Arizona      51   23-23-5    51  21
11. St. Louis     50   23-22-5    51   23
12. Philadelphia  52   23-23-6    52   21
13. Colorado     52   22-21-8    52   22
14. Buffalo       51   25-20-6    56   22
15. Carolina      52   25-21-6    56   24
Who to root for
There are only four games on the NHL schedule for Monday. The highlight for Ranger fans is the second game of their five game homestand, versus the Los Angeles Kings.  On the playoff front, if the Rangers can win, they will be only six points out of the last wild card spot. The Kings have 44 points and could move within five points of New York if they win.
Ducks @ Maple Leafs – Anaheim is buried deep in the lottery standings with the same number of points as the Rangers.  They’ve won only two out of their last ten so to ask them to win on the road in Toronto is a lot, but hope that they can do it.
Canucks @ Flyers – Philadelphia is on the move with seven straight wins. In the process, they have passed the Rangers in the standings, by one point. Meanwhile, Vancouver has swapped spots with Colorado and are a playoff team. Root for the Flyers.
Coyotes @ Stars – Arizona has the same number of points as the Rangers and need some points to create a gap. Root for Arizona.
One more quiet night and then the NHL has a full 12 games schedule on Tuesday. All four teams tied with 51 points will be in action except the Rangers.