The Rangers complete their regular season schedule this week with a pair of games at MSG. Tonight, New York takes on Buffalo. Thursday, the Blueshirts face the Lightning at home. The goal with moving up in the standings somewhat unlikely (see below) is to continue to improve defensively with the most important piece, remaining healthy.
Projected lines:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko Vesey-Goodrow-Motte
Lindgren-Fox Miller-Trouba Mikkola-Schneider
Carolina is on top of the Metro Division at 109 points with three games remaining. New Jersey has 108 with two contests left and New York is at 106 with the same number of games played. The Devils have 50 wins, 38 in regulation, while the Rangers are at 47 and 37, respectively. Second in the division is still a possibility, albeit somewhat unlikely, though a few scenarios exist for that to occur.
If the Rangers win their last two games, against the Sabres on Monday and the Maple Leafs on Thursday, and the Devils lose out against Buffalo and Washington, the teams would swap places in the standings based on overall points. New York would have 110 points and New Jersey, 108.
New York could still move into second place in the division if the teams end up tied in points. If the Rangers win their last two games in regulation and the Devils don’t win once in regulation, yet earn two points the last two games, the Rangers would have 39 such wins and the Devils would finish with 38, giving New York the edge in the first tiebreaker, regulation wins.
First place in the division would require the Rangers earn all four possible remaining points with at least one regulation win and the Hurricanes only notching one of the six possible remaining points. In that scenario, the two teams would finish with 110 points, but New York would hold the first tiebreaker, as they would have 38 regulation wins and Carolina 37 such victories. Unlikely, yes, but remotely possible.
All signs point to a NJ-NYR matchup. The Devils outscored the Rangers 15-10 in taking the season series 2-1-1. New Jersey has the edge in speed, especially through the neutral zone, while New York has the advantage in playoff experience and between the pipes.