The Metropolitan Division is a bloodbath. It will go down to the wire with the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils fighting for a playoff spot. But it differs from the part of the division we need to discuss. When we look at the top of the standings, the New York Rangers have a single-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes, who have played an extra game. It's mayhem in the Metro.
With the Rangers looking to win the division and go into the postseason on a high, the Hurricanes have turned the screws on the Blueshirts. The lead was more than ten points at one point this season, but the Rangers' sluggish January and the Hurricanes' red-hot form since December have allowed the two to become adversaries once again in this fight for the crown. And we're down to the home stretch in the season, so who has the inside track?
Carolina has a more leisurely schedule between the two organizations. Playing Boston twice, Columbus twice, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Montreal, Washington, Chicago, and St Louis means they have it easier. Only Boston is in the dogfight for the Presidents Trophy, and Detroit and Washington are in playoff places other than the Bruins. A cake-walk of a stretch means the Hurricanes can be expected to pick up points most of the way.
Contrary to this, the New York Rangers' remaining games see them go through Philadelphia twice, Colorado, Arizona, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Detroit, Montreal, and Long Island twice before finishing at home to the Ottawa Senators. Colorado is in that race for first overall in the standings, while Detroit and Philadelphia are in playoff places. Only Arizona, Montreal, and Ottawa are adrift of the playoff places, so this run to the end of the season will be difficult for the Rangers.
The magic number for the Rangers to clinch the Metropolitan Division title for just the second time is 19. Nineteen points between now and the conclusion of the season will see this season added to the rafters above the ice at the Garden as the Blueshirts are champions of the Metropolitan. However, there is a reason Carolina has won the division the last two years. They are a phenomenal team, and it will be a true test to the end for this Blueshirts core.