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New York Rangers: Lottery movement and prospects playoff update

By Steve Paulus

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 23: New York Rangers Goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs Left Wing Andreas Johnsson (18) during the regular season NHL game between the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs on March 23, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 23: New York Rangers Goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs Left Wing Andreas Johnsson (18) during the regular season NHL game between the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs on March 23, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 23: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammate Boo Nieves #24 after scoring the over-time winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on March 23, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 23: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammate Boo Nieves #24 after scoring the over-time winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on March 23, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Lottery Look

Okay, time to look at the lottery standings.  With the Rangers winning in overtime, they needed some help from their lottery rivals and they didn’t get much.

Anaheim went to a shootout against the Kings, but Anze Kopitar was the only shootout scorer and the Kings won 4-3.    The point for Anaheim gives them 72, one more than the Rangers.  The big issue with Anaheim is that they only have five games left while the Rangers have eight.  Anaheim has two tough games left with Calgary and three games against lottery teams (Vancouver, Edmonton, Los Angeles)

Buffalo is sneaking into the bottom of the lottery standings. They lost 7-4 to the Canadiens and are folding like a tent, winning only one game in their last ten. Yup, Buffalo has a very good chance of finishing below the Rangers in the standings if they keep this up.  That’s the Sabres of Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin.   The only good news is that the Sabres have one of the easier schedules over their last eight games.  They play Detroit and Ottawa twice each as well as the Devils.  The only playoff-contending teams they play are the Islanders, Predators and Blue Jackets.

The Oilers lost to the Senators in overtime 4-3 and the single point keeps them three points better than the Rangers with seven games to play.   They have a tough schedule with only two games versus lottery teams (Anaheim, Los Angeles) and five games against teams with something to play for (Vegas, Colorado, San Jose, Calgary, Dallas).  Their last two games of the season against San Jose and Calgary may be meaningless to the standings and that would help.

Vancouver lost to the first place Flames 3-1 and are also three points better than New York, also with seven games to play.  The Canucks have a tough schedule with only two “soft” opponents (Anaheim, Los Angeles) and five tough games (Columbus, Dallas, San Jose, Nashville, St. Louis).

The Blackhawks are the third team with 74 points and they also lost, 4-2 to Colorado.  They have eight games left.  Chicago is another team with a tough schedule, facing only one non-playoff team (Los Angeles) and seven games with playoff contending teams (Colorado, Arizona, San Jose, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville).

The Rangers schedule is not any easier as they play eight games in 13 days.  The have five games against contending teams (Pittsburgh twice,  Columbus, St. Louis, Boston) and three games against lottery contenders (Philadelphia, New Jersey, Ottawa).

The oddity is that with New Jersey winning yesterday afternoon, they had pulled within four points of the Rangers and their was a distinct opportunity for the Blueshirts to drop as low as fourth from the bottom.  The win in Toronto sort of eliminated that  possibility.

The standings (Worst is first)

Teams                    GR     W-L-OTL    PT    ROW
1. Ottawa                7     26-43-6        58     26
2. Los Angeles       8     27-39-8         62    24
3. Detroit                 7    27-38-10       64     24
4. New Jersey         6     28-39-9        65     25
5. Rangers              8     29-32-13       71    23
6.  Buffalo               8     31-34-9         71    26
7. Anaheim             5     31-36-10      72     28
8.  Edmonton         7     33-34-8         74    30
9.  Vancouver         7     32-33-10       74    28
10. Chicago             8     32-32-10       74     30
11. Florida               7      33-30-12      78     30
12.  Arizona             7     36-32-7         79     32
13.  Minnesota       6     35-32-9         79     34
14. Philadelphia     7      36-31-8         80     34
15. Columbus         8      40-30-4         84     39

Second East Wild Card Cut Line:  87 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  80 points

Who to root for

Five games in the NHL on Sunday. Two of the games are of importance to the Rangers in their race for lottery positioning.

Avalanche @ Blackhawks – You can check this game out on national television. Colorado moved back into the wild card on Saturday when they beat Chicago.  The Hawks are out for revenge in this second of a home and home series.  Nothing against Colorado, but they are already getting Ottawa’s first rounder and the Blackhawks are only three points ahead of the Rangers.  Go Blackhawks!

Blue Jackets @ Canucks – The Blue Jackets, featuring Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel are out of the playoffs by three points.  They’ve lost three in a row and their season is imploding. A Vancouver win opens a five point gap with the Rangers.  Root for the Canucks.

Next. No Gritty in New York please. dark

The Rangers are back in action on Monday, hosting the Penguins.  It’s one of nine games on the NHL schedule.

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