New York Rangers playoff picture: More ground lost and a big match up tonight

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:  78 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  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