No real harm done to the Rangers’ playoff picture

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.