It wasn’t a good night for the New York Rangers. While they were outplayed by the Buffalo Sabres in a 3-2 loss, they were losing ground to several of their competitors vying for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
There were only three games involving Eastern Conference playoff contenders, including the New York Rangers match with the Buffalo Sabres. The Blueshirts were oddly spiritless in their loss to Buffalo and the final score didn’t reflect how one-sided the game actually was. It was another case of the Rangers falling behind early and clawing their way back but it was too little, too late.
It was the kind of game the Rangers needed to come out of with at least a point, but yet again,. they couldn’t get to overtime.
In the other two games of interest, the Toronto Maple Leafs recovered from their loss to New York on Wednesday by beating Anaheim in overtime behind newly acquired goaltender Jack Campbell. It wasn’t pretty as Toronto allowed the tying goal with less than a minute left.
The Red Wings returned to their losing ways as they were shut out by Elvis Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets. It was his second straight shutout and a magnificent defensive effort by Columbus as they held the Wings to only 16 shots.
The Rangers didn’t lose any ground in the distance from the wild card, but they are now 12 points behind Columbus, an almost insurmountable total except for the two games in hand held by the Blueshirts. They are now nine points behind Toronto and are even with Buffalo, again, with two games in hand on both of their rivals.
The standings
Atlantic Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Boston 55 33-10-12 78 29
Tampa 54 34-15-5 73 29
Toronto 55 29-19-7 65 22
Met Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Washington 54 36-13-5 77 27
Pittsburgh 53 33-15-5 71 22
Columbus 55 30-16-9 69 23
Wild Card GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Islanders 52 31-15-6 68 20
Carolina 54 31-20-3 65 22
Contenders GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Philadelphia 54 29-18-7 65 20
Florida 53 29-18-6 64 24
Montreal 56 26-23-7 59 17
Rangers 53 26-23-4 56 23
Buffalo 55 24-23-8 56 18
New Jersey 53 19-24-10 48 14
Ottawa 54 18-25-11 47 14
Detroit 56 13-39-4 30 10
The key games today
There are six games with playoff implications for the Rangers on Saturday and a few wins could put the Blueshirts even further from a wild card spot.
Maple Leafs @ Canadiens – This is a huge game for both teams and it’s a pick ’em for Ranger fans. The Rangers are three points behind Montreal with three games in hand, so it’s probably more important for the Leafs to lose…at least in overtime.
Islanders @ Lightning – The Isles dropped back into the wild card due to the Jackets win. 12 points ahead of the Rangers and the Isles have a game in hand. Catching them will be tough, but root for a Tampa win.
Penguins @ Panthers – The Rangers need to pass the Panthers in this playoff race so root for the Penguins.
Flyers @ Capitals – Philadelphia wants to rebound from a bad 5-0 loss at home to the Devils, but they have to go to Washington to do it. This will be a tough one for the Flyers and that is good for the Blueshirts.
Avalanche @ Blue Jackets – Another win by Columbus and they will be too far ahead to catch. Root for Colorado to stop the Blue Jackets juggernaut.
Hurricanes @ Golden Knights – Carolina sits in the final wild card spot so it is crucial for them to lose so the Rangers don’t lose ground. Vegas is coming off a very nice win and will be at home. Root for Vegas.
The lottery look
With the loss to Buffalo combined with a win by Minnesota, the Rangers dropped a position in the overall standings and are now eighth from the bottom. While the Rangers are nine points from the final wild card spot, they are also just nine points better than the third worst team in the NHL. A good position in the draft lottery is still a viable reality.
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams GR W-L-OTL PT RW
1. Detroit 55 13-39-4 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 55 29-16-7 51 15
6. San Jose 55 24-27-4 52 18
7. Buffalo 55 24-23-8 56 18
8. Rangers 53 26-23-4 56 23
9. Chicago 54 25-21-8 58 18
10. Minnesota 54 26-22-6 58 23
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 55 29-19-7 65 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 54 30-19-5 65 21
23. Philadelphia 54 29-18-7 65 20
24. Colorado 52 30-16-6 66 27
25. Islanders 52 31-15-6 68 20
26. Columbus 55 30-16-9 69 23
Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 65 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 60 points