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:Â 81 points
Second West Wild Card Cut Line:Â 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