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