Rangers playoff picture: One point closer to the wild card
By Steve Paulus
It was a productive night for the New York Rangers as they gained ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The New York Rangers moved to within five points of a wild card spot with 68 points to the Blue Jacket’s 73. Although there were only three games involving Eastern Conference teams, he standings were jumbled once again.
The playoff picture
The Carolina Hurricanes dropped out of the playoffs with their loss to the Rangers, combined with the Islanders 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Isles leapfrogged Carolina and Columbus and moved in the first wildcard spot.
Although Columbus is still in a playoff position, they learned today that their top goal scorer, Oliver Bjorkstrand, will be out the rest of the season with a broken ankle. It’s the latest in a series of debilitating injuries and it looks impossible for the Blue Jackets to keep up the pace they need to compete for a playoff spot.
Boston won, defeating the Flames 4-3 to move five points ahead of Tampa in the battle for first place in the Atlantic Division.
The standings
Atlantic Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Boston 62 39-11-12 90 34
Tampa 61 40-16-5 85 32
Toronto 62 32-22-8 72 24
Met Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Pittsburgh 59 37-16-6 80 26
Washington 60 37-17-6 80 28
Philadelphia 61 34-20-7 75 24
Wild Card GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Islanders 60 34-20-6 74 23
Columbus 62 30-19-13 73 23
Contenders GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Carolina 60 34-22-4 72 24
Florida 61 32-23-6 70 27
Rangers 60 32-24-4 68 28
Montreal 63 28-27-8 64 17
Buffalo 60 26-26-8 58 20
New Jersey 60 23-27-10 56 17
Ottawa 61 21-29-11 53 16
Detroit 63 15-44-4 34 12
Key games Saturday
There’s a busy schedule of 11 games today, with the highlight the Rangers home game against the San Jose Sharks. There are four games of crucial importance to the Rangers, besides their own.
Jets @ Flyers – This is a matinee so we will know the result early. With 75 points, the Flyers are firmly in third place in the Metropolitan Division, but are still on ly seven points ahead of the Rangers and the Blueshirts have a game in hand. Go Jets!
Hurricanes @ Maple Leafs – It’s more important for the Hurricanes to lose so root for the Leafs, tepidly. The one thing the Rangers do not want is for the game to go to overtime. .A Rangers win and a Canes loss and they will trail Carolina by only two points.
Blue Jackets @ Predators – Columbus is sitting in the wild card the Rangers crave, ahead by five points. The Rangers have two games in hand so they could be in a virtual theoretical tie. Root for the Preds.
Panthers @ Golden Knights – Florida has two points more than the Rangers and have played one more game. The Rangers definitely need to pass Florida if they are to make the playoffs so root for Vegas to win at home.
The lottery look
Let’s not even talk about the draft lottery. We will continue providing the standings until they become relevant or irrelevant to the Rangers.
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams GR W-L-OTL PT RW
1. Detroit 63 15-44-4 34 12
2. Los Angeles 61 22-34-5 49 16
3. Ottawa 61 21-29-11 53 16
4. New Jersey 60 23-27-10 56 17
5. Anaheim 61 24-30-7 56 17
6. San Jose 60 26-30-4 56 20
7. Buffalo 60 26-26-8 58 20
8. Chicago 61 27-26-8 62 19
9. Montreal 63 28-27-8 64 17
10. Minnesota 60 29-24-7 65 25
11. Nashville 60 29-23-8 66 24
12. Arizona 64 30-26-8 68 23
13. Calgary 62 31-25-6 68 21
14. Rangers 60 32-24-4 68 28
15. Winnipeg 62 32-25-5 69 25
16. Florida 61 32-23-6 70 27
17. Vancouver 59 32-21-6 70 25
18. Toronto 62 32-22-8 72 24
19. Vegas 62 32-22-8 72 25
20 Edmonton 61 32-22-7 72 27
21. Carolina 60 34-22-4 72 24
22. Columbus 62 30-19-13 73 23
23. Islanders 60 34-20-6 74 23
24. Philadelphia 61 34-20-7 75 24
25. Dallas 60 35-20-6 75 24
26. Colorado 60 35-18-7 77 32
Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 73 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 68 points
Playoff teams in italics.
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