New York Rangers: The playoff picture and draft lottery look

The lottery look

Parity is the operative word in the NHL these days.  In looking at the teams that could make the playoffs, there are no sure things. In the East, only four teams have put enough distance for them to believe that the playoffs are probable.  Those teams are Washington, Boston, Tampa and Pittsburgh.  That leaves eight teams including the Rangers still in the playoff hunt.

In the West it’s even closer. St. Louis appears to be the closest to a sure thing with a seven point cushion.  Only eight points separate the next ten teams.  There is no way of knowing how the Pacific Division will end up where five points separate the top five teams.  It’s a dogfight and it means that 26 teams are lottery possibilities.

Although still hopeful for the postseason, the Rangers sit ninth from the bottom, within striking distance of finishing third, fourth or fifth worst.  A lot will depend on what kind of sell-off the team does at the deadline.  Stay tuned.

The standings (Worst is first)
Teams                    GR     W-L-OTL    PT    RW
1. Detroit             54     12-38-4       28     10
2. Los Angeles   54     19-30-5       43      13
3. New Jersey     52     18-24-10    46      13
4. Ottawa            53     18-24-11     47     14
5. Anaheim         53      29-16-5       49     15
6. San Jose          54     23-27-4        50     17
7.  Buffalo            53    23-23-7        53     17
8.  Minnesota      52     24-22-6       54      21
9.  Rangers           52     26-22-4       56     23
10. Winnipeg       54     26-23-5        57    19
11. Montreal        55    25-23-7        57     17
12. Nashville        52    25-20-7        57     20
13.  Chicago          54   25-21-8         58     18
14. Calgary            54   27-21-6         60     17
15. Arizona            55   27-21-7         61     19
16. Vegas               55   27-21-7         61     21
17. Edmonton      53    28-19-6        62     24
18. Carolina          53     30-20-3        63     21
19. Toronto           54     28-19-7        63     22
20. Florida             52     29-17-6       64      24
21. Colorado         50     29-16-6       64      26
22. Vancouver      54     30-19-5       65      23
23. Dallas              53     30-18-5       65      21
24. Philadelphia  53      29-17-7       65       20
25. Islanders        51      30-15-6       66       19
26. Columbus       54      29-16-9       67     22

Second East Wild Card Cut Line:  65 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  60 points

We won’t be making any rooting recommendations until the Rangers give up on this season (which could be at the deadline).  Let’s just say that it’s obvious which teams Ranger fans should be following.  In the event that the lottery race becomes the reality, just keep hoping for Ottawa, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Jose and Anaheim to win.  As for Detroit, they are probably a lock for the worst record this season.