Who the Rangers could play in the postseason

The NHL might pull off a 24-team playoff in the near future. Nothing’s been finalized, but it’s looking like the New York Rangers will be included. If so, who will they play and how do they matchup?

As you know, the NHL wants to resume this season with a 24-team playoff. The format and whether the New York Rangers will be included remain uncertain, but a report from Sportsnet Canada late Wednesday may be cause for optimism for the Blueshirts and their fans.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the league is considering a conference-format to determine which teams make the playoffs. Based on points percentage, the top 12 teams in the Eastern and Western conferences would qualify — including the Rangers.

The top four seeds in each conference would receive a bye — and participate in a three-game tournament to get some competitive icetime — while seeds five through twelve meet in best-of-five “play-in” rounds.

Based on points percentages (not to be confused with points totals) when the NHL paused play on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the top four seeds in the East are Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia. Top four in the West are St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas.

The best-of-five “play-in” rounds would be followed by best-of-seven first round series’.

Eastern Conference “play-ins”

No. 5 Pittsburgh vs. No. 12 Montreal

No. 6 Carolina vs. No. 11 Rangers

No. 7 Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida

No. 8 Toronto vs. No. 9 Columbus

Western Conference “play-ins”

No. 5 Edmonton vs. No. 12 Chicago

No. 6 Nashville vs. No. 11 Arizona

No. 7 Vancouver vs. No. 10 Minnesota

No. 8 Calgary vs. No. 9 Winnipeg

First round – East

No. 1 Boston vs. Toronto/Columbus winner

No. 2 Tampa Bay vs. Islanders/Florida winner

No. 3 Washington vs. Carolina/Rangers winner

No. 4 Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh/Montreal winner

First round – West

No. 1 St. Louis vs. Calgary/Winnipeg winner

No. 2 Colorado vs. Nashville/Arizona winner

No. 3 Vegas vs. Vancouver/Minnesota winner

No. 4 Dallas vs. Edmonton/Chicago winner

Friedman added that the NHL and NHLPA have a call scheduled for Thursday to discuss the conference-format.  However, he also stressed that nothing is finalized. Which means the other playoff formats reportedly being considered by the league could still be on the table.

One reported scenario awards a playoff spot to the top six teams in each division based on points totals, regardless of whether one club has more than an intraconference opponent in the other division.

However, it’s doubtful the NHL would choose this format. If it does, the Metropolitan Division’s Rangers (37-28-5, 79 points) and Central Division’s Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-8, 72) would be out, essentially punished for being in powerful divisions (each team’s in seventh place).

Meantime, Montreal (31-31-9, 71) and Buffalo (30-31-8, 68) would be rewarded simply by being in the weaker Atlantic Division. Neither has any business getting a pass to the postseason ahead of the Rangers. None.

While a postseason without the Blueshirts probably would delight some fanbases, the NHL could take fairly substantial hits in television ratings and revenue.

Consider: In the fifteen seasons since the lockout of 2004-05, the Rangers ranked among the top-10 in road attendance fourteen times. Of those, eleven were top-5, including two as the league’s top road draw.

People want to see the Rangers. Some toast every win, others relish each loss. Either way, the bottom line is, the Blueshirts are good for the league’s bottom line.

Know what else would be good for the NHL?  Blackhawks’ stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in these playoffs as opposed to Anaheim (29-33-9, 67). You read that correctly. If the league opts to reward six teams in each division, then it’s Ducks in, ‘Hawks out.

Imagine NHL officials trying to justify to fans, networks, and sponsors the unforced playoff exclusions of Original Six teams based in the megamarkets of New York City and Chicago. Yeah, that wouldn’t be good.

Which brings us to another option the league’s reportedly considering, that of having the top three teams in each division qualify with the other six clubs determined by total points, regardless of their division.

If the NHL takes this path, the top eight clubs would sit out while the bottom four battle in best-of-three “play-in” round. The winners would then play the No. 7 and 8 seeds in a second “play-in” for one of two wild cards in each conference.

Once the wild cards are determined, the NHL would get the “regular” playoffs started.

Under this scenario, the Rangers and Blackhawks would be in (and deservedly so). The Rangers’ 79 points would place them fourth in the Atlantic, while the entire Central Division would make the postseason.

Here’s how the “play-in” rounds would look in this format:

Eastern Conference First “play-in” round 

No. 11 Florida (35-26-8, 78 points) vs. No. 10 Rangers

No. 12 Montreal vs. No. 9 Islanders (35-23-10, 80)

Second “play-in” round

Lowest seed vs. No. 7 Carolina (38-25-5, 81)

Highest seed vs. No. 8 Columbus (33-22-15, 81)

Winners earn the conference’s wild cards

Western Conference First “play-in” round

No. 12 Chicago vs. No. 9 Vancouver

No. 11 Arizona vs. No. 10 Minnesota

Second “play-in” round

Lowest seed vs. No. 7 Winnipeg

Highest seed vs. No. 8 Nashville

Winners earn the conference’s wild cards.

Assuming there will even be a postseason that includes the Rangers, how do they match up against their potential opponents?  We’ll start with the two teams that could play if there are two best-of-three play-in rounds to determine the wild card teams.

Rangers vs. Carolina HurricanesSeason Series – Rangers sweep four games

Nov. 7, 2019 at PNC Arena, Raliegh: Rangers 4, Carolina 2

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was the game’s first star after stopping 45 of 47 shots, including all 22 in a stormy opening period for New York. Filip Chytil’s goal just over one minute into the third period stood as the game’s winner.

Nov. 27, 2019 at Madison Square Garden: Rangers 3, Carolina 2

The Rangers stormed to a 3-0 lead in the opening period on goals by Mika Zibanejad, Brendan Smith and Adam Fox. “The King” was again the game’s first star, stopping 16 of 18 shots in the second period and all 17 in the final stanza.

Dec. 27, 2019 at MSG: Rangers 5, Carolina 3

After Lucas Wallmark opened scoring just over five minutes into the first period, the Rangers surged to a 4-1 lead on two goals from Zibanejad and one apiece from Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin. Lundqvist stopped 39 of 42 shots.

Feb. 21, 2020 at PNC Arena: Rangers 5, Carolina 2

Zibanejad was the game’s first star with a goal and two assists. Panarin was the second star with one marker and a helper. Rookie Igor Shesterkin stopped 27 of 29 shots, including nine of 10 in the third period.

Power play
Rangers 5-14 (36%), Hurricanes 2-15 (13%)

Series leaders

Rangers vs. Hurricanes — Panarin and Zibanejad accounted for seven of the Rangers’ 17 goals, as well as 16 points. Breadman had three tallies and a team-best six assists. … Ryan Strome had two goals and two helpers. … Trouba and Tony DeAngelo each posted four assists. … Lundqvist won three times, recording a 2.33 GAA and .947 SP.

Hurricanes vs. Rangers — Jaccob Slavin had four assists, while Sebastian Aho potted three goals. … Former Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei, traded to Carolina last February, has one assist in seven matches for the ‘Canes. He’s yet to face his former club. … Petr Mrazek was 0-3 with a 3.44 GAA and .872 SP. James Reimer allowed five goals on 24 shots in Carolina’s other loss.

The Rangers will have a date with an old foe if they make it past Carolina.

Mika Zibanejad scores his fifth goal of the game in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

Season series – Rangers win two of three

Oct. 18, 2019 at Capital One Arena: Rangers 2, Washington 5

The Caps raced to a 3-1 second-period lead before the Rangers nearly stole the game. Henrik Lundqvist denied Jakub Vrana‘s penalty shot at 10:16 and Dmitry Orlov‘s breakaway bid a little over four minutes later. Artemi Panarin pulled the Blueshirts within 3-2 with three minutes before the intermission. But a power-play tally by T.J. Oshie midway through the third made it 4-2.

Nov. 20, 2019 at Madison Square Garden: Rangers 4, Washington 1

Lundqvist tied Curtis Joseph for fifth on the NHL’s all-time wins list. Panarin scored twice on the power play and extended his career-best points streak to 12 games. The Caps allowed two man-advantage goals for the first time in 24 games, and lost for the first time in regulation in 10 road games (8-1-1).

March 5, 2020 at MSG: Rangers 6, Washington 5 (overtime)

Mika Zibanejad became the third player in Rangers history to score five goals in a game (Mark Pavelich, Feb. 23, 1983 against Hartford; Don Murdoch, Oct. 12, 1976 versus Minnesota). Zibanejad gave New York a 5-4 lead with 1:42 remaining in regulation. He won it 33 seconds into overtime with a filthy forehand-to-backhand dangle on Ilya Samsonov.

Power play

Rangers 5-13 (38%), Capitals 3-19 (16%)

Series leaders

Rangers vs. Capitals — Zibanejad led with seven points on five goals and two assists. … Panarin had three markers and three helpers. … Pavel Buchnevich had two goals and three assists, while Tony DeAngelo and Kaapo Kakko each posted three points. … Lundqvist was 1-1 with a 2.54 GAA and .922 SP. Alexandar Georgiev allowed five goals on 34 shots in his only start.

Capitals vs. Rangers — John Carlson led with six points, all assists. … Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk had three points apiece. … Braden Holtby went 1-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .898 SP.

Final word

If the NHL can resume play safely, it should do so. So long as the Rangers are in, it doesn’t matter which format the league chooses.

What do you think? Do you favor one format? Or do you think the league should fuggedaboutit and plan for next season?

Drop us a line below.