A realistic look at where the New York Rangers will finish

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 19: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against Madison Bowey #74 and Jacob de la Rose #61 of the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on March 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Lottery Look

Besides the New York Rangers’ loss to Detroit, the only big game for their lottery standings was a disappointment. Edmonton was thrashed by the St. Louis Blues 7-2 in Edmonton. The Rangers’ other lottery rivals were all off Tuesday.

Colorado was able to beat the Wild 3-1 in Minneapolis and they moved seven points ahead of New York in the standings and are safely out of reach. The only teams to really focus on for the rest of the season are the four we profiled.

The standings (Worst is first)

Teams GR W-L-OTL PT ROW
1. Ottawa 10 25-41-6 56 25
2. Los Angeles 10 25-39-8 58 23
3. Detroit 9 26-37-10 62 23
4. New Jersey 8 27-38-9 63 25
5. Anaheim 8 30-35-9 69 27
6. Rangers 9 28-32-13 69 22
7. Buffalo 10 31-32-9 71 26
8. Edmonton 9 32-34-7 71 29
9. Vancouver 9 31-32-10 72 27
10. Chicago 10 32-30-10 74 30
11. Colorado 9 32-29-12 76 31
12. Florida 9 32-29-12 76 29
13. Minnesota 8 34-31-9 77 33
14. Philadelphia 9 35-30-8 78 33
15. Montreal 9 38-28-7 83 36

Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 84 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 78 points

Who to root for

With the Rangers off until Saturday, that means three days of scoreboard watching. Wednesday night is a big one as three of the Rangers’ four archrivals will be in action.

Jets @ Ducks – The Ducks should lose this game. Winnipeg is fighting for first place in the Central Division, only one point ahead of the Predators. The Jets have won three in a row and seem to gelling just in time for the playoff push. Anaheim has only one point in two games versus the Jets this season. If the Ducks can pull off an upset (and they are at home), they will move into sixth place in the lottery standings, ahead of the Rangers who would move to fifth place. It’s a big game for the Blueshirts.

Maple Leafs @ Sabres – This is quite a rivalry game, geographically. The Sabres haven’t been able to beat the Leafs in three games this season. Leafs Nation is in an uproar as Toronto has been losing more than they have been winning, are on a two game losing streak and look like they will take on the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs with Boston holding the home ice advantage. Toronto is not responding well to pressure and that is an opening for the Sabres. It would be helpful to New York if the Sabres can upset.

Senators @ Canucks – This is a game that Vancouver should win. However, at this late stage of the season, the Senators have decided to start winning games, coming into this game off wins against Toronto and St. Louis and well rested having not played since Saturday. The ingredients are ripe for an upset. A Canucks win would open up a five point gap between them and the Rangers. Go Canucks.

Three goals for the rest of the season. dark. Next

The NHL schedule gets busy on Thursday with a 12 game slate. The Oilers are in action in the one game that matters to the Rangers

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