With the day off for the New York Rangers it was time to face a future without Chris Kreider and to watch the scoreboard.
It was day of mixed results in the playoff picture for the Rangers. It was also a day when the Ragers playoff rivals did what the New York Rangers have not been able to do and that is get points when losing.
The playoff picture
The key game for the Rangers was Carolina’s match against the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs looked like they were going to do the Blueshirts a huge favor, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. But it turns out the Rangers are not the only team that can come back against Montreal as the Canes did the same thing. Ryan Lindgren’s big brother Charlie was in net and he allowed the tying goal to the Hurricanes with only 1:17 left.
Luckily for the Rangers, Jeff Petry was able to win the game for Montreal in the overtime period so the Canes only came away with one point. With that point, Carolina moved ahead of the Rangers by that single point.
The other really big game was between the Islanders and the Bruins. The Islanders reverted to their punchless offense and were shut out by the visiting Boston Bruins. The Isles have now played the same number of games as the Rangers and are four points ahead of the Blueshirts.
The so-called loser point came into play in the game between Chicago and Florida. The Panthers scored with only 1:28 left to force overtime. The overtime was scoreless and the Blackhawks won when Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews scored in the shootout. Florida picked up one point in the loss and are now only one point behind the Rangers. Considering that the Rangers want the Panthers to pass the Maple Leafs, it wasn’t enough.
That’s because Toronto won, defeating the visiting Vancouver Canucks 4-2. They’ve opened a five point lead over the Florida Panthers and the Ranger hopes for a higher Toronto draft pick (potentially acquired in the Brady Skjei deal) are slipping away.
The Rangers inability to get to overtime is going to be their downfall if they miss the playoffs. They have only had nine overtime games this season with the Red Wings the only team with fewer, eight.
On another note, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a tailspin as they lost their sixth in a row, dropping a 5-0 decision to the San Jose Sharks. If they keep this up, the six points separating the Rangers and the Pens could disappear. Don’t forget, the Rangers have three more games with the Penguins this season.
The standings
Atlantic Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Boston 66 41-13-12 94 36
Tampa 65 41-19-5 87 33
Toronto 66 35-23-8 78 27
Met Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Washington 64 39-19-6 84 29
Philadelphia 64 37-20-7 81 27
Pittsburgh 64 37-21-6 80 26
Wild Card GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Islanders 64 35-21-8 78 24
Columbus 66 31-21-14 76 23
Contenders GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Carolina 64 35-24-5 75 25
Rangers 64 35-25-4 74 30
Florida 65 33-25-7 73 28
Montreal 67 30-28-9 69 18
Buffalo 65 29-28-8 66 22
New Jersey 64 25-27-12 62 19
Ottawa 66 23-31-12 58 17
Detroit 67 15-47-5 35 12
Key games Sunday
There are six games on Sunday with the Rangers rematch with the Flyers the key game, starting at noon. There are two other games that could affect the Rangers playoff aspirations.
Canucks @ Blue Jackets – The Blue Jackets hold on the last wild card spot is precarious with a one point lead on Carolina and a two point lead on the Rangers. Both the Canes and Blueshirts have two games in hand on the Blue Jackets as well. Considering Columbus’ injured list, it feels inevitable that they will be passed.
Flames @ Panthers – This is a tough one. You want the Panthers to win because you want them to knock the Maple Leafs out of the playoffs so that Brady Skjei draft pick will be more valuable. But the Panthers are also right behind the Rangers in the overall standings and could get in their way in the wild card hunt. Pick your poison in this game.
The lottery look
While the Rangers are still in the running for a lottery pick, we’ll keep providing the updated lottery look. What interesting is that the Rangers have the 17th worst record in the NHL, but because of the weakness of the Western Conference, they would end up with the 14th overall pick if the season ended today .
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams GP W-L-OTL PT RW
1. Detroit 67 15-47-5 35 12
2. Los Angeles 65 24-35-6 54 17
3. Ottawa 66 23-31-12 58 17
4. San Jose 65 28-33-4 60 21
5. Anaheim 64 26-30-8 60 18
6. New Jersey 64 25-27-12 62 19
7. Chicago 65 29-28-8 66 20
8. Buffalo 65 29-28-8 66 22
9. Montreal 67 30-28-9 69 18
10. Minnesota 64 32-25-7 70 28
11. Arizona 67 32-27-8 72 25
12. Winnipeg 67 33-28-6 72 26
13. Nashville 64 32-24-8 72 25
14. Calgary 66 33-26-7 73 23
15. Florida 65 33-25-7 73 28
16. Vancouver 64 34-24-6 74 26
17. Rangers 64 35-25-4 74 30
18. Edmonton 65 34-23-8 76 29
19. Carolina 64 35-24-5 75 25
20. Columbus 66 31-21-14 76 23
21. Toronto 66 35-23-8 78 27
22. Islanders 64 35-21-8 78 24
23. Vegas 66 36-22-8 80 28
24. Pittsburgh 64 37-21-6 80 26
25. Dallas 65 37-21-7 81 26
26. Philadelphia 64 37-20-7 81 27
27. Colorado 64 39-18-7 85 35
Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 76 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 72 points
Playoff teams in italics.