The New York Rangers helped themselves the most with their 4-3 overtime win over the Islanders. Some of their postseason arch rivals helped them as well.
It was a very good night. The Rangers won and as a result, are only four points out of the wild card, behind Columbus with three games in hand. They closed to within two points of the Carolina Hurricanes and despite allowing the Islanders to get one point, are only five points behind their local rivals.
The playoff picture
In the key game of the night, the Carolina Hurricanes with Brady Skjei in the lineup, allowed three goals in the first period and lost to Dallas 4-1. The Hurricanes didn’t make a move for a goalie at the deadline and they lost with rookie goalie Alex Nedeljkovic who allowed four goals on 16 shots.
The Blue Jackets continue to compete despite devastating injuries. After a dramatic overtime win on Monday, the Jackets lost their ninth game in their last 10 games despite a three goal third period. Columbus is in free fall and while still hanging on to the final wild card spot, they have played more games than any team in the East and are ripe to be taken.
The Flyers beat the Sharks 4-2 and strengthen their hold onto third place in the Metropolitan Division and moved within one point of second place Pittsburgh. The Flyers are on a roll and their two games this weekend with the Rangers loom large.
The Maple Leafs upset the Lightning in Tampa 4-3, when a loss would have dropped them from a playoff spot. It was a big win for Toronto and a nice comeback after their embarrassing loss to the Zamboni driver.
In the last game of interest to the Rangers, Mike Hoffman’s third period goal gave Florida a 2-1 win over Arizona. For draft purposes alone, the Rangers want Florida to overtake Toronto for a playoff spot. Wins like this will help.
The standings
Atlantic Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Boston 64 39-13-12 90 34
Tampa 63 40-18-5 85 32
Toronto 64 33-23-8 74 25
Met Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Washington 63 39-18-6 84 29
Pittsburgh 61 37-18-6 80 26
Philadelphia 63 36-20-7 79 26
Wild Card GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Islanders 62 35-20-7 77 24
Columbus 65 31-20-14 76 23
Contenders GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Carolina 62 35-23-4 74 25
Rangers 62 34-24-4 72 29
Florida 63 33-24-6 72 28
Montreal 65 29-27-9 67 18
Buffalo 62 29-25-8 66 22
New Jersey 62 25-27-10 60 19
Ottawa 64 21-31-12 54 16
Detroit 65 15-46-4 34 12
Key games Wednesday
It’s an easy night for the scoreboard watchers. There are no game of real importance for the Rangers in their playoff push. The Sabres play the Avalanche, but they are six points behind the Blueshirts and are mostly out of the playoff picture.
The lottery look
Since the Rangers are going to make the playoffs, we really don’t have to include the lottery standings, but we will just to keep everyone in the loop.
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams GR W-L-OTL PT RW
1. Detroit 65 15-46-4 34 12
2. Los Angeles 63 22-35-6 50 16
3. Ottawa 64 21-31-12 54 16
4. San Jose 63 26-33-4 56 20
5. Anaheim 63 25-30-8 59 18
6. New Jersey 62 25-27-10 60 19
7. Chicago 63 27-28-8 62 19
8. Buffalo 62 29-25-8 66 22
9. Montreal 65 29-27-9 67 18
10. Minnesota 62 30-25-7 67 26
11. Arizona 66 31-27-8 70 24
12. Winnipeg 65 32-27-6 70 25
13. Nashville 62 31-23-8 70 25
14. Calgary 64 33-25-6 72 23
15. Florida 63 33-24-6 72 28
16. Rangers 62 34-24-4 72 29
17. Vancouver 61 33-22-6 72 26
18. Toronto 64 33-23-8 74 25
20. Carolina 62 35-23-4 74 25
19. Edmonton 63 33-22-8 75 28
21. Columbus 65 31-20-14 76 23
22. Vegas 64 34-22-8 76 26
23. Islanders 62 35-20-7 77 24
24. Philadelphia 63 36-20-7 79 26
25. Dallas 62 37-20-6 79 26
26. Colorado 61 36-18-7 79 32
Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 76 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 70 points
Playoff teams in italics.