No lottery standings movement for the New York Rangers as a result of their loss to New Jersey Devils. With last night’s results, the Rangers can now finish anywhere from fourth to tenth in the lottery (reverse) standings.
The two teams below the New York Rangers in the standings were not in action. Without Buffalo or Detroit playing the Rangers remain three points better than both teams, though the Blueshirts hold the ROW tiebreaker. The scenarios are clear. If those two teams win all of their remaining games the Rangers have to win won out of their last three. It’s doubtful.
As far as moving further away from the bottom, Anaheim is one point better with only two games to play. Edmonton lost to Vegas so they remain two points better. Vancouver was idle and remains three points ahead.
Chicago did the Rangers a favor, going to overtime in a 4-3 loss to Winnipeg. If the New York Rangers lose just one of their last three games, they are assured of finishing behind the Blackhawks. The bad news in that game was that Winnipeg won and moved into sole possession of first place in the Central Division. Since the Blueshirts own their first round draft pick, the worse they finish, the better.
There are some interesting playoff races still ongoing, so the number of “meaningless” games is still small. No matter, it still looks like a finish anywhere from sixth to eighth from the bottom for the Blueshirts. In “The Athletic’s” daily analysis, they place the Rangers sixth from the bottom at the end of the season.
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams GR W-L-OTL PTS ROW
1. *Ottawa 3 28-45-6 62 28
2. *Los Angeles 3 29-40-9 67 26
3. *New Jersey 2 30-40-10 70 27
4. Buffalo 3 31-38-10 72 26
5. Detroit 3 31-38-10 72 28
6. Rangers 3 31-35-13 75 25
7. Anaheim 2 33-37-10 76 29
8. Edmonton 3 34-36-9 77 31
9. Vancouver 3 34-35-10 78 28
10. Chicago 3 34-33-12 80 32
11. *Minnesota 3 36-34-9 81 35
12. *Philadelphia 3 37-34-8 82 34
13. *Florida 2 36-32-12 84 33
14. *Arizona 3 38-33-8 84 34
15. *Montreal 3 42-29-8 92 40
Asterisk means the Rangers cannot pass them in the standings.
Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 93 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 86 points
Who to root for
Another busy night in the NHL with ten games on the schedule. The New York Rangers and their fans will be following four of the games closely.
Predators @ Sabres – Nashville is two points out of first place and at the very least, are battling for home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Sabres stink and are in full tank mode. Root for the Sabres to win, and if it happens, go buy a lottery ticket.
Penguins @ Red Wings – Detroit has won five in a row and the Penguins have lost only two of their last ten. Two hot teams in a meeting that is crucial to Metropolitan Division playoff standings for Pittsburgh. It’s a big game for the Rangers as a Red Wings win will move them within one point of the Blueshirts. The Wings are the Rangers’ only hope of moving up in the lottery standings. So, root hard for the Red Wings to beat the Penguins (which shouldn’t be hard to do anyway).
Oilers @ Avalanche – An Edmonton win will almost put them out of reach of the Rangers. Colorado is holding on to the last wild card spot by the fingernails over the Coyotes who are playing the Kings. An Arizona win and an Avalanche loss knocks them out of the playoffs. It will be a tall order for Edmonton to win, but with Connor McDavid, anything can happen.
Sharks @ Canucks – San Jose has clinched second place in the Pacific Division so this game doesn’t mean much to them. Hopefully they will rest some regulars so the Canucks can have a shot at winning. A Vancouver win won’t put them out of reach of the Rangers, but it will make it almost impossible to catch them.