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.