A tough loss in a tight game for the New York Rangers on a night when they could have gained valuable points on a playoff rival.
In losing to the St. Louis Blues the New York Rangers didn’t actually lose any ground to their closest playoff competitors, but they have one less game to play and that is the important factor.
The playoff picture
The Islanders are fading and for once, the Montreal Canadiens didn’t blow a big lead. The Habs won 6-2 on Long Island, a bad loss at a key time. They are stuck with 78 points in the first wild card spot and have won only twice in regulation in their last ten games.
The Penguins ended their six game losing streak with a decisive 7-3 win over the Senators, led by a Bryan Rust hat trick. It gives the Pens 82 points, one behind the Philadelphia Flyers and four more than the Islanders and Blue Jackets.
On another note, Toronto dropped a 5-2 decision to San Jose and are stuck in third place in the Atlantic Division with 78 points, giving the slumping Florida Panthers some hope. Florida is five points behind the Maple Leafs and have slim hopes of catching them.
The standings
Atlantic Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Boston 15 42-13-12 96 37
Tampa 16 41-20-5 87 33
Toronto 15 35-24-8 78 27
Met Div. GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Washington 17 40-19-6 86 30
Philadelphia 17 38-20-7 83 28
Pittsburgh 17 38-21-6 82 27
Wild Card GP W-L-OTL PTS RW
Islanders 17 35-22-8 78 24
Columbus 15 32-21-14 78 24
Contenders GR W-L-OTL PTS RW
Carolina 18 35-24-5 75 25
Rangers 16 35-27-4 74 30
Florida 16 33-26-7 73 28
Montreal 15 31-28-9 71 19
Buffalo 16 29-29-8 66 22
New Jersey 16 26-28-12 64 20
Ottawa 15 23-32-12 58 17
Detroit 14 15-48-5 35 12
Key games Wednesday
There are only four games on the NHL schedule for Wednesday. One game is absolutely crucial to the Rangers’ playoff hopes. The other is of some interest to the Blueshirts.
Blue Jackets @ Flames – The Rangers really need Columbus to lose this game. If the Blue Jackets win, they will open up a six point spread on the Rangers and that is almost insurmountable. Calgary has worse record than Columbus, but are in third place in the Pacific Division. Their home record is a mediocre 14-12-4. They really need to come through in this game and beat the Blue Jackets.
Flyers @ Capitals – This is a huge game for both teams. The Flyers have closed to within three points of the Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Beating the Caps in Washington could put the Flyers in position to move into first place as early as Thursday.
As far as the Rangers and their fans, the hope has to be for a tough, physical overtime game with either team winning. The key is for the Flyers to beat the crap out of the Capitals so they will be exhausted coming into Thursday’s game with the rested Rangers.
The lottery look
With each loss, the odds that the Rangers will be a lottery team increase. The lottery look is getting important once again. The Rangers have the 15th worst record in the NHL, but will have the 14th position in the draft lottery.
With 74 points, they are only three points better than Montreal who has the ninth worst record in the league. Ninth place gives you a 16% chance of moving into the top three picks. The team that finishes 14th has a 5% chance of moving into the top three.
The standings (Worst is first)
Teams GR W-L-OTL PT RW
1. Detroit 14 15-48-5 35 12 (E)
2. Los Angeles 16 25-35-6 56 18
3. Ottawa 15 23-32-12 58 17
4. Anaheim 16 26-32-8 60 18
5. San Jose 16 29-33-4 62 22
6. New Jersey 16 26-28-12 64 20
7. Buffalo 16 29-29-8 66 22
8. Chicago 18 30-28-8 68 21
9. Montreal 15 31-28-9 71 19
10. Minnesota 16 33-26-7 72 29
11. Arizona 15 32-27-8 72 25
12. Nashville 16 32-26-8 72 25
13. Florida 16 33-26-7 73 28
14. Winnipeg 14 34-28-6 74 27
15. Rangers 16 35-27-4 74 30
16. Vancouver 17 34-25-6 74 26
17. Calgary 15 34-26-7 75 24
18. Carolina 18 35-24-5 75 25
19. Columbus 15 32-21-14 78 24
20. Toronto 15 35-24-8 78 27
21. Islanders 17 35-22-8 78 24
22. Edmonton 15 36-23-8 80 30
23. Vegas 14 37-23-8 82 29
24. Dallas 16 37-21-8 82 26
25. Pittsburgh 17 38-21-6 82 27
26. Philadelphia 17 38-20-7 83 28
27. Colorado 17 40-18-7 87 36
Second East Wild Card Cut Line: 78 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line: 74 points
Playoff teams in italics.
E= Eliminated from the playoffs