New York Rangers: A bad night for the playoff picture

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