In a season of ups and downs for the New York Rangers, we're approaching a time when the Blueshirts will have to buckle down if they're going to make a playoff push. Currently, New York sits three points behind that final wild-card spot. They're still in the thick of the hunt because of the dire state of the Eastern Conference this year. New York can salvage this season and return to the playoffs if they can continue to string together wins.
Hunting the Wild Card
Coming out of the gates hot in the New Year has been an excellent way for the Rangers to reinvigorate their postseason push. They've started to close the gap on the teams above them. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Red Wings separate the Rangers from the final wild-card spot. It's three points to make up on Detroit, with the same number of games played. This will be a great fight to the end.
Currently, the Rangers have games in hand on Columbus and Boston but have played the same number of games as Detroit, meaning this will get messy mathematically. Three of the original six are fighting for one spot, while the feel-good story of the year continues to try and cement its grasp on the postseason. It will be a fight for the Rangers, but perhaps the Blueshirts can turn their attention further up the standings.
Divisonal Spot?
The New Jersey Devils are currently third in the Metropolitan Division, 10 points ahead of the Rangers with two extra games played. Without starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the foreseeable future due to a knee injury, the Devils will be looking over their shoulder, trying not to fall into the chasing pack. New York can come roaring back into the fight for a divisional spot if they can find some consistency on the defensive end of the game.
Is it likely that the Rangers catch New Jersey? No. That would be one of the collapses of the season from the Devils if they did not finish ahead of the Rangers. However, the Blueshirts know blood is in the water with an injury-depleted team across the Hudson. If the Rangers begin the restart after the Four Nations faceoff well, the Blueshirts can pressure the Devils and start to dream of a divisional spot.