The New York Rangers continue to play their hearts out and talk about playoff contention. The reality of life is they are seven points behind Columbus for the last wild card spot and in the modern NHL, seven points are a lot to make up.
Parity is the goal for Gary Bettman and the folks who run the National Hockey League. Parity means that any team can win on any given night and in a salary cap driven league, no team can be dominant for long. Add in the bonus point for overtime wins and every team is over .500 and contending for the playoffs. This season is no different, with 26 out of 31 teams legitimately in the post-season hunt. However, there are big differences between the East and West Conferences.
The Eastern Conference
At times it seems like no one wants to solidify their hold on a playoff spot in the East. Although Tampa and Toronto have done their best to lock down a post-season slot, the other six teams currently in a playoff position are separated by only five points. Those teams have taken turns moving up and down the standings for weeks. Today, it’s Columbus in the last wild card spot with 61 points.
Four teams, including the Rangers, are within striking distance of a playoff spot. The Flyers have won eight games in a row and they are tied with the Rangers at 54 points. Carolina and Buffalo both have 58 points and are three points behind Columbus. While the Hurricanes and Sabres can stake a legitimate claim to playoff contention, it’s much less certain for New York and Philadelphia.
The Western Conference
As tight as the playoff race in the East is, the West borders on the absurd. Four teams are solidly in position to make the post-season. Winnipeg, Nashville, Calgary and San Jose all have enough points that, barring a total collapse, they will make the playoffs.
Vegas and Dallas are both in secure positions and if they keep winning a majority of their games, they are a lock for the playoffs. It’s the race for the two wild card spots that is crazy.
Minnesota occupies the top wild card slot with 57 points. Vancouver is next with 54 points. The next six team are all knocking on the door, out of the wild card by one point (St. Louis), two points (Colorado) or three points (Arizona, Edmonton, Chicago and Anaheim).
The Anaheim Ducks have won two out of their last 19 games and are just three points out of the wild card. Unbelievable.
Did you notice something as it relates to the Rangers? Remember, by beating Boston, the Rangers now have 54 points. Yes, if the New York Rangers were in the Western Conference, they would have the same number of points as the Vancouver Canucks who occupy the last wild card slot. In fact, both Buffalo and Carolina have more points than both Western Conference wild card teams and the Flyers have the same number of points as New York.