New York Rangers: A night off from scoreboard watching

Enjoy it Ranger fans.  A night off from watching the New York Rangers in action or monitoring the scoreboard to see how their rivals are doing.  That’s because none of them played.

It was a quiet night in the NHL with only three games on the schedule and none of the New York Rangers’ arch rivals in action. In fact, only two Eastern Conference teams were in action to provide a modicum of interest for fans of the Blueshirts.

The playoff picture

The Buffalo Sabres had staged a mini-revival, winning five of six games coming into tonight.  While ten points from the wild card is a probably too many to make up, the Sabres were making themselves relevant again.  They came crashing to a halt, losing to the Colorado Avalanche 3-2.  That leaves them six points behind the Rangers.

Believe it or not, the Penguins lost 2-1 to the Los Angeles Kings in Patrick Marleau’s debut wearing the gold and black.  It means the Rangers are eight points behind the Pens.   Tough to catch?  Yes.  Impossible?  No.

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      62      37-19-6       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             63     29-26-8       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 Thursday

Ten games on the schedule and the big one is the Rangers visit to Montreal.  Let’s not call any of these games “must win” games.  They all are.  Other than the Blueshirts’ own contest, there are two games to keep your eyes on.

Islanders @ Blues –   The Blues are battling Colorado for first place in the Central Division so this is a meaningful game for them. They will be tough to beat at home and if the Rangers can win and the Isles lose, it will be a three point spread between the two teams.   Root for the Blues, hard!

Maple Leafs @ Panthers – This game is huge. Toronto wins and they open a four point lead over Florida for third place in the Atlantic Division.  If the Panthers win, Toronto is out of the playoffs.  Normally, we would say pick your poison, but that Brady Skjei draft pick makes the Toronto finish kind of important.   Go Panthers!

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    64     23-35-6       52     17
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             63     29-26-8       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      64    33-23-8       75     28
21. Columbus      65    31-20-14     76     23
22. Islanders        62     35-20-7       77     24
23. Vegas              65     35-22-8       78     27
24. Philadelphia   63     36-20-7      79     26
25. Dallas              62     37-20-6       79    26
26. Colorado         62     37-18-7      81     33

Second East Wild Card Cut Line:  76 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  70 points
Playoff  teams in italics.