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The Rangers and the playoffs: Go for it

By Curtis Jetter

Artemi Panarin #10, Marc Staal #18, Brett Howden #21, Ryan Strome #16 and Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers celebrate after a goal during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on December 31, 2019, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
Artemi Panarin #10, Marc Staal #18, Brett Howden #21, Ryan Strome #16 and Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers celebrate after a goal during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on December 31, 2019, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 13: Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers reacts after scoring a goal in the second period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on January 13, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 13: Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers reacts after scoring a goal in the second period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on January 13, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Look at their record.

At 23-21-4, the Rangers sit 10 points out of a playoff spot, but they have played the fewest games (48) of any of the seven teams that have are currently in the hunt for the two wildcard spots in the east. If you are a glass half-full fan, then you see the Rangers as only six points out of a playoff spot.

Now take a closer look at the standings and it reveals a rather interesting story.  The Rangers have 20 regulation wins. Only nine teams in the entire Eastern playoff hunt have as many as 20 regulation wins as we get to the All-Star break. The Islanders are currently holding down the third playoff spot with only 19 regulation wins. Montreal is the weakest from the wildcard group with only 15 regulation wins.

The teams in the wildcard hunt with 20 plus regulation wins include Toronto, Columbus, Carolina and the Rangers.  With the exception of the Blueshirts all were playoff teams last year.

Not only are regulation wins the first tie-breaker should teams be tied for a playoff spot, but it is the true indicator of how well a team is actually playing.  In that scenario, the Rangers are certainly in the playoff hunt and should approach the rest of the season accordingly. The playoffs are not a pipe dream.

Points gained while participating in the overtime spectacles during the regular season are clearly valuable, but they can also be an indication of weakness. Teams that make hay by collecting overtime wins are living a delicate existence.  There is a lot of luck that goes into three-on-three and certainly more goes into a shootout.  Things can go south pretty quickly for a team should the bounces not go your way in overtime.

The Rangers are not flirting with Lady Luck as much as several other teams.  That makes them a legit playoff contender. But the question remains, can they get there?  Here’s how.

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