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New York Rangers: Some good news, some bad news in the lottery race

By Steve Paulus

WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 12: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a save on Boo Nieves #24 of the New York Rangers during second period action at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 12: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a save on Boo Nieves #24 of the New York Rangers during second period action at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 12: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets covers up the puck in the crease as Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers looks for a rebound during third period action at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 12: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets covers up the puck in the crease as Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers looks for a rebound during third period action at the Bell MTS Place on February 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers didn’t gain any ground in the lottery race by losing to the Winnipeg Jets. On a busy night in the NHL, the lottery teams in action were 5-6.

On the playoff front, the Rangers loss leaves them still nine points out of the last wild card spot. Pittsburgh was idle on Tuesday and remain with 65 points.  They are in a precarious position as Carolina is only one point back and the Sabres closed to within two.

The Lottery Look

The Rangers remain 11th from the bottom of the NHL, but some unexpected wins made the race for lottery positioning even closer.  Only six points separate the Rangers from the second worst record in the league.

Detroit beat Nashville 3-2 on the road, a huge upset that draws the Red Wings five points behind the Rangers and lifted them from second worst to third.

The Coyotes also pulled off an upset, beating the Golden Knights in Vegas 5-2. It was done in front of their dads and Arizona is now only one point behind the Rangers.   The jumped from 7th worst to 10th worst in the NHL.

The Flyers beat the Wild 5-4 and moved three points ahead of New York.  The breathing room helps.

Carolina beat the Senators 4-1 and moved within one point of the Penguins for the last wild card spot and opened up an eight point lead over the Rangers.  The Senators remain in the basement and are nine points worst than New York.

Buffalo upset the Islanders and got a little closer to a playoff spot.  They also moved seven points ahead of the Rangers, a good thing.

Four lottery teams lost, not helping the Rangers at all.  Chicago lost 6-3 to the Bruins, Dallas shutout the Panthers 3-0, the Blues walloped the Devils 8-3 and Toronto beat Colorado 5-2.  All of the losing teams kept pace with the Rangers.

The standings (Worst is first)

Teams                     GP      W-L-OTL    PTS   ROW
1. Ottawa               56     21-30-5      47      21
2. New Jersey        56     21-27-8      50     20
3. Detroit                57     22-28-7      51     20
4. Los Angeles      56     23-28-5      51     21
5. Anaheim            56     21-26-9      51     18
6.  Edmonton        55     24-26-5      53     21
7. Florida                55     23-24-8      54      21
8. Chicago              57     23-25-9      55     22
9.  Colorado           56     22-23-11    55     22
10.  Arizona           56     25-26-5      55     23
11. Rangers           56     24-24-8      56     18
12. Vancouver       57    25-25-7       57      23
13. Philadelphia    57    26-24-7       59      24
14.  Buffalo            56    28-21-7       63      24
15.  Carolina           57    29-22-6       64      28

Who to root for

Only two games in the NHL on Wednesday.  Lottery team are in action in both games and while the results won’t affect the Rangers’ standings, there are definite teams to root for.

Oilers @ Penguins – An Edmonton win helps the Rangers playoff dreams as well as their lottery hopes.  Edmonton is only three points behind the Rangers so an Oiler win will get them closer.

Canucks @ Ducks – Anaheim is playing horribly, has fired its coach and have slipped a full five points below the Rangers.  Vancouver sits one point better than the Rangers, so a win by either team will be a good thing for New York.  Anaheim needs to win to stem the bleeding.  Vancouver opens some space between them and the Rangers.  So, pick’em, but hope for overtime.

Next. The Rangers have a Lundqvist problem after losing to Jets. dark

The Rangers are idle on Thursday and there are 11 games on the schedule so there is a real opportunity for some movement in the lottery race standings.

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