The Rangers are in Boston tonight to face the Bruins. Boston is second in the Atlantic, five points north of Toronto with both teams having played 76 games. The game means little for the Bruins, save for a win going a long way to locking up home ice advantage versus the Maple Leafs in round 1 of the playoffs. New York takes on St. Louis at home on Friday.
Likely lines (with Chris Kreider out, Jesper Fast done for the season and Marc Staal questionable): Lemieux-Zibanejad-Buchnevich Namestnikov-Chytil-Lettieri Vesey-Andersson-Strome Nieves-Howden-Smith
Claesson-DeAngelo Skjei-Shattenkirk Gilmour-Pionk
Kreider may go Friday, and then play the remaining five games of the season. Connor Brickley is likely the off-man out again. Henrik Lundqvist, who ceded the net for two straight games to Alexandar Georgiev, will be between the pipes. No official word yet on Staal, though I would be surprised if he was back into the lineup.
This Adam Fox news broke yesterday. While it doesn’t completely close the door on him signing in Carolina, clearly, that doesn’t help the situation. Fox was drafted by Calgary and traded to Carolina in the broader Elias Lindholm-Michael Ferland. The Rangers will be all over Fox, who grew up a New York fan, whose favorite player was Brian Leetch. We can dream about having him on the right side of the defense for the 2020-21 season:
Per multiple sources, Harvard junior D Adam Fox will return for senior season, opting not to sign with Carolina Hurricanes. Favors becoming free agent next summer. Great news for Crimson and college hockey as a whole.
— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxSports) March 26, 2019
I wrote the below paragraph earlier. As I said, I will note the results of each of the final 10 games here and if New York’s place in the standings has changed. The paragraph also reflects the current standings.
March 19 – Detroit 3 New York 2. Still sixth. Tied with Anaheim, one game in hand. Edmonton lost, so no change march 20 - Sabres lost (Buffalo has two more points than New York), Ducks lost (team has same number of points as Rangers but New York has two games in hand) March 21 - Oilers won, so they are four points north of NY with the Rangers having a game in hand March 22 - Anaheim wins, putting the Rangers for the time-being in fifth place in the lottery March 23 - New York 2 Toronto 1, OT. Devils win, Oilers lose, Sabres lose March 24 – no games impacted the bottom of the standings March 25 - Pitt 5 NYR 2, Devils beat Sabres 3-1 March 26 – Sabres lose, Ducks win over Canucks, Oilers win
If the Rangers continue to struggle, they could stay in sixth, as they are now, but the number of games remaining make that questionable. Edmonton has five more points than New York and have played one more game, as has Chicago. In addition, Vancouver and Anaheim are three points north of the Rangers, with New York holding two games in hand on the Canucks and three on the Ducks. Buffalo and the Rangers have the same number of points Buffalo has played one more game and therefore is in fifth with New York now in sixth. New Jersey has played two more games and has four fewer points that New York, but the two teams meet Monday at the Rock. New York faces Detroit, Toronto (both games over), Pittsburgh, Boston, St. Louis, Philly, New Jersey, Ottawa, Columbus and Pittsburgh down the stretch.
After having three days in between games, the Rangers played Monday and now finish the season with seven games in the next 11 days, including five in the seven to close the season, consisting of two sets of back-to-backs. They close the season on a back-to-back (home against Columbus April 5 and in Pittsburgh on April 6).