New York Rangers: A very good night for the playoff picture.

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.