The playoff picture & lottery look for Friday plus Kreider talks to begin

It was a busy night in the NHL on Thursday with several games of playoff consequence for the New York Rangers. Updated with information about the Rangers starting to talk contract with Chris Kreider.

There was good news and bad news for the New York Rangers as they watch the scoreboard to see how their playoff hopes are doing.   They remain nine points behind the last wild card team, but they have two games in hand.  Win both of those games and they are only five points out.

Kreider talks to start

According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN, Jeff Gorton has begun negotiations on a new contract with Chris Kreider’s agent.  There have been no talks up to now and with a little over two weeks to go, Gorton will get to learn what Kreider is looking for.

It’s a positive step and gives the Rangers’ general manager some needed information as they get closer to the trade deadline. Kreider remains the top pending free agent who will be available this summer.

The playoff picture

For those watching results for playoff implications here were the games of note.  The Hurricanes passed the Flyers into the final wild card spot by beating Arizona.  Meanwhile, the Flyers took a bad loss at home, losing to the Devils 5-0.  Also positive for the Blueshirts was a 7-2 road  victory by Vegas over the Florida Panthers.

The Hurricanes, Islanders and Canadiens did the Rangers no favors by winning.  With their win the Isles are now in third place in the Met Division, dropping Columbus into the first wild card.

The Buffalo Sabres come to the Garden fresh off a demoralizing shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Scoring with the goalie pulled and less than a minute left was a huge lift, but then they lost in the shootout.  The point that they gained is small consolation for the Sabres who couldn’t win again, at home.

The standings

Atlantic Div.  GP    W-L-OTL      PTS     RW
Boston            55      33-10-12    78      29
Tampa             54      34-15-5       73      29
Florida             53      29-18-6       64      24
Met Div.         GP      W-L-OTL     PTS    RW
Washington   54      36-13-5       77     27
Pittsburgh      53      33-15-5       71     22
Islanders        52      31-15-6       68       20
Wild Card       GP       W-L-OTL     PTS   RW
Columbus       54      29-16-9       67     22
Carolina           54     31-20-3        65     22
Contenders   GP      W-L-OTL      PTS   RW
Philadelphia   54      29-18-7       65       20
Toronto            54     28-19-7        63     22
Montreal         56     26-23-7        59     17
Rangers           52     26-22-4       56     23
Buffalo             54     23-23-8       54     17
New Jersey     53     19-24-10    48      14
Ottawa            54     18-25-11     47     14
Detroit             55     13-38-4       30      10

The key games tonight

Only four games on the schedule Friday night.  Three of the four have playoff implications for the Rangers including their tilt at home against Buffalo.    The Blueshirts could put a bullet in Buffalo’s playoff hopes by winning tonight.

Red Wings at Blue Jackets – This should be a gimme for the Blue Jackets, but that’s what the Sabres said Thursday night.  Columbus has been on a roll so Detroit will have a challenge ahead of them.  Hope for another miracle.
Ducks at Maple Leafs – Anaheim is on an east coast swing and after taking Montreal to overtime and losing, they visit Toronto.  The Leafs are desperate, especially after their loss Wednesday night to the Blueshirts.  Newly acquired Kyle Clifford should make his debut for Toronto and it remains to be see if they go with their new goalie Jack Campbell.  Frederik Andersen is doubtful for the game and the Leafs got more bad news with defenseman Cody Ceci out “for a while” from an injury suffered in the game in New York.

The lottery look

The Rangers remain ninth from the bottom with the Wild moving into a tie.  One important note is the number of games the Rangers have played.  They have played 52 games, the fewest in the league along with Colorado and the Islanders.  That could have implications for both the playoff race and the lottery standings.

The standings (Worst is first)

Teams                    GR     W-L-OTL    PT    RW
1. Detroit            55     13-38-4        30      10
2. Los Angeles   55     19-31-5        43      13
3. Ottawa            54     18-25-11     47     14
4. New Jersey    53     19-24-10      48      14
5. Anaheim         54      29-16-6       50    15
6. San Jose          55     24-27-4        52     18
7.  Buffalo            54     23-23-8        54     17
8.  Minnesota      53    25-22-6         56      22
9.  Rangers           52     26-22-4       56     23
10.  Chicago          54   25-21-8         58     18
11. Winnipeg       55     27-23-5        59    20
12. Montreal        56     26-23-7       59     17
13. Nashville        53    26-20-7        59     21
14. Calgary            55   27-22-6         60     17
15. Arizona            56   27-22-7         61     19
16. Edmonton      54    28-20-6        62     24
17. Vegas               56   28-21-7         63     22
18. Toronto           54     28-19-7        63     22
19. Florida            53      29-18-6       64      24
20. Carolina          54     31-20-3        65     22
21. Vancouver      55     30-20-5       65      23
22. Dallas              53     30-18-5       65      21
23. Philadelphia  54      29-18-7       65       20
24. Columbus       54      29-16-9       67     22
25. Colorado         52     30-16-6        66      27
26. Islanders        52      31-15-6       68       20

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

We said this before…we won’t be making any rooting recommendations until the Rangers give up on this season (which could be at the deadline). If they do fall out of contention, they are well positioned to qualify for a prime lottery slot.