Can they make it three in a row versus the Devils?

The New York Rangers continue their drive for a playoff berth with a matinee against the Devils. Igor Shesterkin will be in net again going for shutout number three.   While their improved play has been a reason for optimism, the Boston Bruins are simply not losing and that could be a fatal blow to the Blueshirts’ playoff dream.

The Bruins had two tough back-to-back games against the Islanders and won them both. outscoring the Isles 7-1.   Can we all agree that the Islanders are doing their best to keep the Rangers out of the postseason and they deserve our scorn for that?

The Bruins are now six points ahead of the Rangers with one game in hand. The Rangers have to win today to keep pace.

The playoff picture

The Bruins have 14 games left including seven against the Sabres and Devils.  While Buffalo has staged a post trade deadline revival, with only 13 games left for the Rangers, they are simply running out of time.

The Rangers end their season with two games against the Bruins on May 6 and 8.  The problem is the Bruins have two games after the Rangers’ season is over.  Here’s the scenario if the Rangers want to get to their last two games in a position to tie Boston if they sweep.

Let’s suppose that the Bruins take five of seven from New Jersey and Buffalo and then win one of their next three games against the Pittsburgh and Washington. That would give them 12 points and a total of 66 points heading into their two games against the Rangers.

For the Rangers to get to 62 points going into that series, they would need to win seven out of  their last 11 games.  They still have five games against the Islanders and Capitals so that it is a tall order.

Of course, that only gets them within four points of Boston going into their last weekend and the Rangers would need to sweep the Bruins.  In other words, the Rangers need to win nine out of their last 13 including a sweep of the Bruins and then hope and pray that Boston loses their last two games.  If the Rangers win more than nine (including a sweep of Boston), it puts more pressure on the Bruins.

If Boston keeps winning it will be out of the Rangers’ hands, but for now, they do have some control over their own destiny and that begins with a win over the Devils on Saturday.