New York Rangers playoff picture: Lost opportunities after a tough loss

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