New York Rangers playoff picture: Nothing gained, nothing lost

It could have been much worse.  The New York Rangers lost a key game, but their two chief rivals for the postseason also lost.

It was the best possible scenario considering the New York Rangers 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.   The only ground they lost was to the Flyers and it was  a major blow to the faint hope they had of catching them  The teams the Blueshirts needed to lose, obliged so while they gained no ground, they lost no ground.

As for the Kreider injury, it is something the team will have to deal with just like every other team in the league.  It was a loss,  but not in the standings.

The playoff picture

The game everyone was watching was the Hurricanes game in Colorado.  Carolina will be the team that the Rangers have to beat to make it into the wild card and a Hurricanes loss was essential.  The fact that they were playing one of the top teams in the Western Conference helped but for a while it looked dicey as the Canes came back late in the third period to tie the game 2-2.   The Avs took the lead on a Samuel Girard goal with 2:37 left in the game and they held on for the 3-2 win.

In the other game of interest, the Minnesota Wild thoroughly beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-0.  The Blue Jackets are slumping at an opportune time for the Rangers and though they remain in the wild card with 76 points two points ahead of the Rangers, the Blueshirts hold two games in hand.

The other Eastern Conference game worth mentioning was the Penguins 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.  The Pens loss enabled the Philadelphia Flyers to pass them and are the Flyers are now in second place in the Metropolitan Division.

The standings

Atlantic Div.  GP    W-L-OTL      PTS     RW
Boston            65      40-13-12     92     35
Tampa             64      40-19-5       85      32
Toronto           65     34-23-8        76      26
Met Div.         GP      W-L-OTL     PTS    RW
Washington   64      39-19-6       84     29
Philadelphia    64      37-20-7      81     27
Pittsburgh      63      37-20-6       80     26
Wild Card       GP       W-L-OTL     PTS   RW
Islanders        63     35-20-8        78     24
Columbus      66    31-21-14       76     23
Contenders   GP      W-L-OTL      PTS   RW
Carolina          63    35-24-4        74     25
Rangers          64     35-25-4       74     30
Florida             64     33-25-6       72     28
Montreal         66     29-28-9       67     18
Buffalo            64     29-27-8       66     22
New Jersey     63     25-27-11     61    19
Ottawa            65     22-31-12     56    17
Detroit             66     15-47-4       34     12

Key games Saturday

It’s a really busy Saturday with 12 NHL games scheduled.   Four of them are worth keeping an eye on.

Hurricanes @ Canadiens – This is the biggie.  The Rangers need the Hurricanes to lose to remain tied with them in points.  Root for Montreal to be fully recovered from their loss to the Blueshirts so they can take on the Canes.

Bruins @ Islanders – The Rangers still have hopes of catching the Islanders in the wild card.  Only four points back, the Blueshirts need the Bruins to play like the best team in the Atlantic Divisoin.  Go Boston!

Canucks @ Maple Leafs – Not a crucial game, but Ranger fans should be rooting the the Leafs to miss the playoffs for draft purposes.  Root for the Canucks to win on the road.

Blackhawks @ Panthers – The Rangers need the Panthers to pass the Maple Leafs to knock Toronto out of the playoff picture.   They are home taking on a slumping Chicago team.  Look for the Hawks to snap out of it and win on the road.

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             66     15-47-4       34     12
2. Los Angeles    64     23-35-6       52     17
3. Ottawa            65     22-31-12     56    17
4. San Jose          64     27-33-4        58    20
5. Anaheim         64      26-30-8       60    18
6. New Jersey     63     25-27-11     61    19
7.  Chicago           64     28-28-8       64     20
8. Buffalo             64     29-27-8       66     22
9. Montreal         66     29-28-9       67     18
10.  Minnesota   64    32-25-7       70     28
11. Arizona          66   31-27-8         70     24
12. Winnipeg       66    33-27-6        72    26
13. Florida            64    33-25-6       72     28
14.  Nashville      63    32-23-8        72     25
15. Calgary           65    33-25-7       73     23
16. Edmonton      64    33-23-8       74     28
17. Vancouver      63    34-23-6       74     26
18.  Rangers          64     35-25-4       74     30
19. Carolina          63    35-24-4        74    25
20. Columbus      66    31-21-14     76     23
21. Toronto           65     34-23-8      76     26
22. Islanders        63     35-20-8       78     24
23. Vegas              66     36-22-8       80     28
24. Dallas              64     37-21-6       80     26
25. Pittsburgh      63      37-20-6       80     26
26. Philadelphia  64     37-20-7        81     27
27. Colorado         63     38-18-7       83     34

Second East Wild Card Cut Line:  76 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  72 points
Playoff  teams in italics.