New York Rangers: Mixed results and they drop another 2 points out of the wild card

It was a night of mixed results for the New York Rangers in their quest for a playoff spot.  In the one game that really mattered, a Carolina win dropped the Blueshirts 11 points out of the wild card.

The big game for the Rangers was Carolina’s shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights.  The Canes went into the third period trailing 3-1, but scored four third period goals to force overtime.  They won in a shootout.

The Rangers are now 11 points out of the last wild card and a win on Sunday is essential.

In games that helped the Rangers, Tampa beat the Islanders, the Penguins topped the Panthers and Colorado edged the Blue Jackets.    Columbus and the Islanders have large cushions that will be tough to overcome, but with three games in hand now on Columbus, they are within reach.

The disappointment was in Montreal, where the Canadiens beat Toronto, but had to go to overtime to do it.  With the point, the Maple Leafs are now ten points up on the Rangers and increased their tenuous hold on third place in the Atlantic Division.

Coming off a 5-0 loss to the Devils, the Flyers needed a big win and they got it, beating Washington on the road 7-2.  That unlikely win didn’t help the Rangers at all.

The standings

Atlantic Div.  GP    W-L-OTL      PTS     RW
Boston            56      34-10-12     80      30
Tampa             55      35-15-5       75      30
Toronto            56     29-19-8        66     22
Met Div.         GP      W-L-OTL     PTS    RW
Washington   55      36-14-5       77     27
Pittsburgh      54      34-15-5       73     23
Columbus       56      30-17-9       69      23
Wild Card       GP       W-L-OTL     PTS   RW
Islanders        53      31-16-6       68       20
Carolina         55      32-20-3        67      22
Contenders   GP      W-L-OTL      PTS   RW
Philadelphia   55      30-18-7       67      21
Florida             54      29-19-6       64      24
Montreal         57     27-23-7        61     17
Rangers           53     26-23-4       56     23
Buffalo             55     24-23-8       56     18
New Jersey     54     20-24-10     50      15
Ottawa             55     18-26-11     47     14
Detroit              56     13-39-4       30      10

The key games today

Something must  be going on today, because the schedule is awfully light and all the games are early in the day.  Oh, the Oscars are on and the NHL won’t compete with them. As a result,  except for the Rangers’ own game against Los Angeles, there is only one other game that is worth tracking for scoreboard watching purposes.  That would be Anaheim’s visit to Buffalo.

Ducks @ Sabres – The Sabres and the Rangers are tied in points, so it would better for New York if Buffalo lost.  It’s not crucial, but the sooner the Sabres are in the Rangers rear view mirror, the better if not for lottery purposes, but for playoff race self esteem.

The lottery look

The Blueshirts remain eighth from the bottom of the NHL and in the draft lottery race. The good news is that the Devils continue to win and are now only six points below the Rangers.

The standings (Worst is first)
Teams                    GR     W-L-OTL    PT    RW
1. Detroit            55     13-39-4        30      10
2. Los Angeles   56     19-32-5        43      13
3. Ottawa            55     18-26-11     47     14
4. New Jersey     54     20-24-10      50    15
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. Nashville       54     26-21-7         59     21
12. Winnipeg       56     28-23-5        61    21
13. Montreal        57     27-23-7       61     17
14. Arizona            57   27-23-7         61     19
15. Calgary            56   28-22-6         62     18
16. Vegas             57   28-21-8          64     22
17. Florida            54      29-19-6       64     24
18. Edmonton      55    29-20-6        64     25
19. Vancouver      56     30-21-5       65      23
20. Toronto           56    29-19-8        66     22
21. Philadelphia  55      30-18-7       67     21
22. Dallas              55     31-19-5       67      21
23. Carolina          55     32-20-3        67     22
24. Colorado         53     31-16-6       68      28
25. Islanders         53     31-16-6       68       20
26. Columbus       56     30-17-9       69      23

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