The Rangers take on the Senators at MSG today. If you look at the three games remaining, on paper, this contest looks to be the most winnable, as Columbus and Pittsburgh are on the docket for the weekend. A victory tonight could have a material impacs on where New York finishes in the ping-pong lottery and Ottawa, with the pick owned by Colorado, has clinched the worst record in the league.
Lineup notes for tonight: - Henrik Lundqvist will be in net vs. Ott as coach David Quinn is trying to get Hank his 20th win of the team to keep his career streak of at least 20 victories per season intact. That would necessitate playing one of the two remaining games after tonight, presuming he wins, as he currently is at 18 victories on the season. A win tonight would be the 450th of his career.
- John Gilmour, who last played March 27, will be back in the lineup while Frederik Claesson will be out, so I would look for Gilmour to be paired again with Neal Pionk
- Filip Chytil, injured late against New Jersey, will be out due to his shoulder ailment and is day-to-day. He could possibly play in one of the last two games. Here is a GIF of how Chytil was injured:
A less than ideal finish to tonight's game – looks like Chytil injures his shoulder. pic.twitter.com/VfjQIYvJVk
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 2, 2019
- Pavel Buchnevich, concussion protocol, is a true game-time decision - If Buch is out with Chytil sidelined, Brett Howden might move up to center the second line with Lias Andersson sliding up to third line. Boo Nieves would then shift back to center with Brendan Smith lining up at wing. The other option is to move Vinni Lettieri up and have Strome slide down to center the second line.
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 lost, Ducks beat Canucks, Oilers won March 27 - Boston 6 New York 3 March 28 – Detroit 5-4 in overtime over Buffalo, so the Sabres earn a point, Oilers lose 3-2 in shootout, but gain a point. Vancouver 3-2 over LA in a shootout. Chicago 5-4 over San Jose. March 29 – Rangers 4 Blues 2, Red Wings defeated the Devils, Flames defeated the Ducks March 30 – Blues defeated the Devils in overtime, Sabres lost, Canucks won in a shootout, Ducks defeated the Oilers, Kings beat the Blackhawks in overtime March 31 – Rangers 3 Flyers 0, Sabres lost April 1 - Devils 4 Rangers 2, Jets beat Blackhawks in overtime, Oilers lose, Flames beat Kings April 2 – Sabres lose, Red Wings win, Flyers lose, Oilers lose, Canucks win, Kings win
The Rangers may stay in sixth, as they are now, but their two straight wins and number of games remaining makes that somewhat questionable due to having games in hand on several teams battling the Blueshirts for ping-pong ball placement. Chicago has five more points than New York with both teams having three games remaining while Vancouver is also five points north of the Rangers, with New York having one game in hand. In addition, Edmonton has two more points than New York while also playing one more game, while Anaheim has one point more than New York, who have a game in hand. Detroit has 74 points with 80 games played, while Buffalo is at 72 points with two games remaining. New Jersey, who has the third pick as of now, has played one more game and has five fewer points than New York. Those two wins this past weekend by New York sure look like they will a material impact on the ping-pong ball race. If the Blueshirts had lost both, right now, they would be in fourth, one point ahead of the Devils with a handful of games remaining. New York has faced Detroit, Toronto. Pittsburgh, Boston, St. Louis, Philly and New Jersey with Ottawa, Columbus and Pittsburgh still to be played.
The Rangers finish the season with three games in the next four days. They close the season on a back-to-back (home against Columbus April 5 and in Pittsburgh on April 6).