New York Rangers: The playoff picture for deadline day

Trade deadline day!  Not much changed for the New York Rangers in their playoff hunt, personnel wise or standings-wise.   They just lost a little ground to playoff rival.

Most of the eight games on the schedule for Sunday involved teams from the Western Conference.  As a result, there was really only one game of consequence for the New York Rangers.

After losing to the Rangers on Saturday night, the San Jose Sharks had a short turnaround with an afternoon tilt on Long Island.  Predictably, on short rest, they lost 4-1.  As a result, the Islanders have 76 points and solidified their hold on the first wild card slot and moved within a point of third place Philadelphia.

In other Eastern Conference matches, the Sabres continued their mini-revival by beating the Jets 2-1 and improved to 66 points, four behind the Blueshirts.  The Rangers have a game in hand on the Sabres and the good thing is their win is good for lottery considerations.

Ex-Ranger Carl Hagelin scored twice as the Capitals beat the Penguins 5-3 and retook first place in the Metropolitan Division.

The standings

Atlantic Div.  GP    W-L-OTL      PTS     RW
Boston            63      39-12-12     90     34
Tampa             62      40-17-5       85      32
Toronto           63     32-23-8        72      24
Met Div.         GP      W-L-OTL     PTS    RW
Washington   62      38-18-6       82     29
Pittsburgh      61      37-18-6       80     26
Philadelphia    62     35-20-7       77     25
Wild Card       GP       W-L-OTL     PTS   RW
Islanders        61     35-20-6       76     24
Carolina          61    35-22-4         74     25
Contenders   GP      W-L-OTL      PTS   RW
Columbus       63    30-19-14      74    23
Florida             62     32-24-6       70     27
Rangers           61     33-24-4       70     29
Montreal         64     29-27-8       66     18
Buffalo             62     29-25-8       66     22
New Jersey     61     24-27-10     58    18
Ottawa             62     21-30-11     53    16
Detroit              64     15-45-4       34     12

Key game Monday

There is only one game on the schedule for Monday as all attention will be on the trade deadline.  The one game does have importance to the Rangers as it features one of the teams standing between the Blueshirts and the wild card.

Senators @ Blue Jackets – Columbus is out of the playoff picture, tied with 74 points, but behind because of games played.  The Rangers are four points behind the Blue Jackets and have two games in hand, this one will make it three.   Look for a Senators road upset.

The lottery look

As we  have mentioned, we are not going to talk about the draft lottery standings, but will include them just in case they become relevant.

The standings (Worst is first)

Teams                  GR     W-L-OTL       PT    RW
1. Detroit              64     15-45-4       34     12
2. Los Angeles    63     22-35-6       50     16
3. Ottawa             62     21-30-11     53    16
4. Anaheim         62      24-30-8       57    17
5. San Jose          62     26-32-4        56     20
6. New Jersey     61     24-27-10     58    18
7.  Chicago           62     27-27-8       62     19
8.  Minnesota      61    29-25-7       65     25
9. Buffalo             62     29-25-8       66     22
10.  Montreal      64     29-27-8       66     18
12.  Nashville      61    30-23-8        68     24
13. Winnipeg       64    32-27-5        69    25
14. Arizona           65   31-26-8        70    24
11. Calgary           63    32-25-6       70     22
15. Florida             62     32-24-6      70     27
16.  Rangers         61     33-24-4      70     29
17. Toronto           63     32-23-8       72     24
18. Vancouver     61    33-22-6         72    26
19. Columbus       63    30-19-14      74    23
20. Edmonton      62    33-22-7       74     28
21. Carolina          61    35-22-4         74     25
22. Vegas              64     34-22-8       76     26
23. Islanders       61      35-20-6       76     24
24. Dallas              61     36-20-6       77      25
25. Philadelphia   62    35-20-7        77     25
26. Colorado         61     36-18-7       79     32

Second East Wild Card Cut Line:  74 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  69 points
Playoff  teams in italics.