New York Rangers: The playoff race tightens with a big road win in Dallas

The New York Rangers did their job by winning on the road, but there were mixed results from their playoff rivals.

It was a big night for the playoff contenders with the Hurricanes and Islanders both in action along with the New York Rangers. The biggest positive was the Blueshirts’ 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars, a win that gives the Rangers 78 points in their battle for a playoff spot.  They remain three points out of the wild card.

The playoff picture

As predicted, the Hurricanes trounced the Detroit Red Wings, 5-2, sealing the deal with three third period goals.  Although the game was in Detroit, it would have been a major upset if the Canes had lost this game.  Carolina has a softer schedule than the playoff competitors and play in New Jersey on Thursday.

It’s frustrating, but the Islanders lost again, but again they came out of the loss with a point. They have now lost seven games in a row, but have been able to get one point in four of those games. That may be the difference at the end of the season.  The now have 80 points, two more than the Rangers and one less than Carolina and Columbus, the two wild card teams.

It’s important to remember that the Rangers own the tiebreaker against all of their compeititors so they don’t need to exceed their point totals, just match them.

Pittsburgh beat up on the Devils 5-2, so they are really out of reach of the Rangers, despite the three games the two team have with each other remaining this season.  The Penguins now have 86 points and with the win pulled within three points of the Flyers, who lost to Boston.

Toronto also won and pulled three points ahead of Florida in the race for third pace in the Atlantic Division.

The standings

Atlantic Div.  GP    W-L-OTL      PTS     RW
Boston            12     44-14-12   100    38
Tampa             12     43-21-6       92     35
Toronto           12     36-25-9       81     28
Met Div.         GP      W-L-OTL     PTS    RW
Washington   13     41-20-8      90     31
Philadelphia   13    41-21-7       89     31
Pittsburgh      13    40-23-6       86     29
Wild Card       GP       W-L-OTL     PTS   RW
Carolina          14     38-25-5       81    27
Columbus      12     33-22-15     81    25
Contenders   GR      W-L-OTL      PTS   RW
Islanders        14      35-23-10     80   24
Rangers          13      37-28-4     78     31
Florida             13      35-26-8     78     30
Montreal         12     31-31-9       71    19
New Jersey     13     28-29-12    68    22
Buffalo            13     30-31-8       68     22
Ottawa            12     25-33-12     62    18
Detroit             11    17-49-5        39     13

Key games Wednesday

SImple answer to this question.  There are none except the Rangers’ own game against the Avalanche. It will be the Islanders, Blue Jackets, Panthers and Hurricanes watching the results of the Blueshirts’ game this night.  A Ranger win pulls them within one point of the wild card.

The lottery look

There were only two games that were of lottery interest on Tuesday night.  The Predators beat the Canadiens 4-2 and not have 78 points, the same as the Rangers and are still on the outside of the playoff picture.  It’s not a bad result for the Blueshirts lottery hopes.

When the Canucks beat the Islanders in a shootout, they remain tied with the Rangers with 78 points, though they passed Winnipeg and are back in the wild card.  It was a double bonus for the Rangers, beneficial for their playoff hopes and their lottery aspirations.

The standings (Worst is first)

Teams                  GR     W-L-OTL       PT    RW
1. Detroit             11    17-49-5        39     13  (E)
2. Ottawa            12     25-33-12     62    18
3. Los Angeles   13     28-35-6        62     20
4. San Jose          13     29-35-5        63    22
5. Anaheim         12     29-32-9        67    20
6. Buffalo            13     30-31-8        68     22
7. New Jersey     13     28-29-12     68    22
8.  Chicago          13     31-30-8        70     22
9. Montreal         12     31-31-9       71     19
10. Arizona          12   33-29-8         74     26
11. Minnesota    13    35-27-7        77     30
12. Winnipeg      12    36-28-6        78     29
13. Vancouver     13   36-27-6       78     27
14.  Nashville      13    35-26-8        78     28
15. Florida           13    35-26-8        78     30
16. Rangers         13    37-28-4        78     31
17. Calgary           12    36-27-7       79     25
18. Islanders        14    35-23-10      80    24
19. Toronto           12     36-25-9       81    28
20. Columbus      12     33-22-15     81    25
21. Carolina          14     38-25-5       81    27
22. Dallas              13     37-24-8      82     26
23. Edmonton      12    37-24-9       83     31
24. Pittsburgh      13    40-23-6       86     29
25. Vegas              11    39-24-8       86     30
26. Philadelphia   13    41-21-7       89     31
27. Washington   14     41-20-7      89     31
28. Colorado         13    41-20-8       90     37
29. Tampa             12     43-21-6      92    35

Second East Wild Card Cut Line:  81 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:  78 points
Playoff  teams in italics.
E= Eliminated from the playoffs

Here are the key lottery match-ups for Wednesday

Sharks @ Blackhawks – Chicago has 70 points, eight fewer than the Rangers so their chance of finishing with a better record that the Rangers is slim, but root for the Blackhawks anyway.

Jets @ Oilers – Root for Winnipeg in this game.  They have 78 points like the Rangers so it would be better if they got a few more.   Edmonton is five points ahead of the Blueshirts, a decent cushion.   However, an overtime win for the Jets would be the best option