The New York Rangers drop one more point behind a rival on a quiet night in the NHL.
The New York Rangers were off, but the Columbus Blue Jackets were in action and they picked up a crucial point in the standings.  It was the only result that will have any effect on the Rangers drive for a playoff spot.
If anyone feels bad about the Flyers sweep of the Rangers this weekend, don’t. They are red hot and are beating everybody. Tonight, they traveled to Washington DC and behind Kevin Hayes, they scored three second period goals and beat the Capitals 5-2. The win moves the Flyers to within one point of the Metropolitan Division leading Capitals. It’s seven wins in a row for Philadelphia while Washington is 5-8-1 since the All-Star break.
All reports are that it was a tough, physical game so let’s hope the Flyers wore out the Caps so they won’t be at their best in their game against the Rangers.
But let’s get back to the game that mattered.
The playoff picture
If the Columbus Blue Jackets beat out the Rangers for a playoff spot, it will be for one simple reason, their uncanny ability to get points while losing. They did it against the Calgary Flames, blowing a 2-0 lead in the third period and losing in overtime, 3-2.
With the loss, Columbus now has 79 points, five more than the Rangers though they only have 14 games left compared to 16 for the Blueshirts.
Since the beginning of December, the Blue Jackets have won 21 of 42 games, exactly half. However, they have gotten to overtime or a shootout in 11 of their 21 losses meaning that they have gotten at least a point in 32 of the last 42 games.  That has been the difference this season.
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  16   40-20-6    86   30
Philadelphia  16   39-20-7    85   29
Pittsburgh   17   38-21-6    82   27
Wild Card    GP    W-L-OTL   PTS  RW
Islanders    17   35-22-8    78   24
Columbus    14   32-21-15   79   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 Thursday
There are ten games on the schedule tonight and a Ranger loss combined with some wins could really put a bullet in their playoff hopes. It’s getting late in the season and wins and losses really matter.
There are four absolutely crucial games tonight, including the Rangers match with the Capitals.
Hurricanes @ Flyers – The Canes are one point ahead of the Rangers and they have two games in hand. The Blueshirts need Carolina to lose games like this one, where they are playing one of the hottest teams in the NHL. As much as it hurts, root for the Flyers.
Islanders @ Senators – The Islanders have won only two games in their last ten and are fading fast. If they keep this up they are in real danger of falling out of the playoffs and were already passed by Columbus and are now in the last wild card spot.  Four points separate them from the Rangers. Go Ottawa!
Bruins @ Panthers – Florida is only one point behind the Rangers and the Blueshirts could use a little bit of a bigger cushion. Root for the Bruins, now destined to finish first in the Atlantic Division.
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.
In the lottery standings, there was good news as Arizona beat Vancouver and moved into a points tie with the Rangers with 74 points.
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     15   27-32-8    62  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. Nashville   16  32-26-8    72   25
12. Florida      16  33-26-7    73   28
13. Arizona     14  33-27-8     74   26
14. Winnipeg   14  34-28-6    74   27
15. Rangers    16  35-27-4    74   30
16. Vancouver   16  34-26-6    74   26
17. Calgary      14  35-26-7    77   24
18. Carolina     18  35-24-5    75  25
19. Toronto     15   35-24-8    78   27
20. Islanders    17   35-22-8    78   24
21. Columbus   14   32-21-15   79   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  16  39-20-7    85   29
27. Washington  16   40-20-6    86   30
28. Tampa       16   41-20-5    87  33
29. Colorado     16   40-18-8    88  36
Second East Wild Card Cut Line:Â 78 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:Â 74 points
Playoff teams in italics.
E= Eliminated from the playoffs
We will begin giving a rooting guide for the lottery as well.
Penguins @ Sabres – Root for Buffalo
Canadiens @ Lightning – Go Montreal
Bruins @ Panthers – For lottery purposes, root for the Panthers