They're in. For the ninth time in 10 years and sixth straight, the Rangers are in the playoffs. New York's 4-2 victory over the Blue Jackets on Monday clinched the postseason berth. Now, the focus shifts to positioning and probably even more important, the health and status of Ryan McDonagh.
First on the Captain. At 14:47 of the first period, McDonagh blocked a Brandon Dubinsky shot with his right hand, immediately dropping his stick. Despite finishing the period, you sort of knew that this might be bad. When McDonagh didn't return for the last two periods, those thoughts started to form into more of a reality. Not much came out after the game, as the only comments were that McDonagh was still being evacuated and that it's possible a defenseman is called up for tonight's game. Best case, it's a bad bruise or hairline fracture that sidelines McD the balance of the year but he is back by the playoffs. Worst case, it's a break and he is out long term. It's too easy to wildly speculate, and with facts, I will stay away from that.
Even if McD wasn't injured last night, calling up another d-man made sense to provide additional depth. Dylan McIlrath, who is ready to go after recovering from his knee, should have been in for a few games down the stretch. McDonagh's possible absence now forces the Rangers' hands. I could see Keith Yandle with Kevin Klein and Marc Staal, who impressively stepped up when McD was hurt yesterday, with McI. That would leave Dan Boyle and Dan Girardi, but I would call up Brady Skjei and play him with G while sitting Boyle on the back-to-back. Raphael Diaz is not a likely option as he is battling an injury.
New York was better last night in controlling play. Granted there were some bobbles, especially after McD went out and Klein had to shift sides, but overall, a much better game than the last three. Of course, it wouldn't be the Rangers if they didn't make it interesting, which is what happened when Columbus cut the lead to 3-2 with 9:45 remaining. Visions of recent games past where third period leads were blown, clearly were at the front of our minds. But New York did enough to hold on, with the win sealed when's Derek Stepan notched his 20th in the empty net shorthanded with 1:11 to go.
The pros have to be the recent play of Chris Kreider and Stepan. Kreider, after an incredibly slow start, which drew the ire of the fanbase, has really picked up his game lately. He is using his speed to drive hard to the net and size to carve out space; capitalizing on both to score or create chances. Those two key components of his game were MIA the first several months of the season. Now, and maybe it's a contact push or he just figured out what he was doing wrong, he is back to playing like the power forward we all thought New York had.
Stepan, despite being slow and lacking the profile of a top two center, continues to produce. His goal and assist gave Stepan 300 points in his first six seasons. Stepan had notched at least 40 points each of those seasons, playing on the first or second line. In addition, he may be the most defensively responsible of the team's pivot man, seeing time shorthanded along with matching up against the opponents' top two lines.
With the win, positioning now is the focus. Several feel that falling out of the three seed in the Metro to first Wild Card spot makes sense. That would enable NY to avoid Pitt in round one and likely Washington in round two. The thought process makes sense. Play Florida in round 1 and either Tampa Bay, who are missing Stamkos and Stralman, Detroit or Boston; which on paper are easier opponents than Pitt or the Isles and then likely Washington. My thoughts on this is be careful what your wish for. While on paper, one matchup may look easier than the other, there is no guarantee it will be nor does it mean even if it is that New York will win. Play it out, see what happens and then beat whoever you face rather than targeting a specific path or opponent.
Playoff Picture :
Starting with 10 games to go, scoreboard watching became the sport inside of the sport. As of the end of games April4, the Rangers, who have three games left after their win over Columbus on Monday, sit third in the division, 44-26-9 with 97 points. When I do a recap or game preview blog, I will include this at the bottom of the blog. However, on non-game/recap days, I will run this daily since this is a huge topic of conversation and a large component of our focus.
Sunday, the red-hot Penguins defeated the Flyers, maintaining second place in the Metro, three points ahead of the Rangers. In addition, Pittsburgh leads the Rangers 42-41 in ROW, guiding the Penguins a strong likelihood of holding second place. Chicago beat Boston, keeping the Bruins in ninth place in the conference and on the outside of the playoffs.
Monday, the Isles beat the Tampa, keeping them two points back of the Rangers with a game in hand and contest Thursday versus the Blueshirts. Florida beat Toronto, which didn't have a direct impact on the Rangers, but makes Tampa a more desperate team tonight. In addition, each team's remaining games could have an impact on standings placement down the road when in the post-season, depending on who wins first and second round matchups. Tuesday: Direct - Isles-Capitals and Penguins-Senators (rooting interest depends on where you want Rangers to finish in division). Indirect (overall standings) - Hurricanes-Bruins and Panthers-Canadiens.
Division:
Washington locked up the division and top seed in the conference with their win over Ottawa on March 22.
Pittsburgh- defeated Philadelphia 6-2 on Sunday for their sixth straight win. 9-1-0 in last 10, second in the division, three point ahead of the Rangers with same number of games played. (played 41 games at home, 37 on road, none left at home, three on road)
NYI- 5-2 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday, 5-5-0 in last 10, one game in hand and two points behind the Rangers, in fourth place in Metro. First Wild Card. (played 39 games at home, 39 on road, two left at home, two on road)
Philly- lost 6-2 to Pittsburgh on Sunday. 6-3-1 their last 10, one game in hand on the Rangers, eight points behind NY. Ahead of Boston by one point with a game in hand for eighth place on conference and Second Wild Card spot. Tied with Detroit, who is third in Atlantic, with one game in hand. (played 39 games at home, 39 on road, two left at home, two on road)
Conference (teams with a reasonable shot at the playoffs. Right now, three team race for division with Detroit looming).
Florida has 99 points with three games left after beating Toronto on Monday. That win coupled with Tampa's loss to the Islanders puts Florida four points up on the Lightning for first in the Atlantic with 99 points to Tampa's 95. Panthers and Lightning have each played 39 games but Tampa is up 42-38 in ROW. Florida is 7-3-0 in last 10, having won three in a row and played 40 games at home and 39 on the road. One game left at home and two on the road.
Tampa Bay has 95 points with three games left after their 5-2 loss to the Isles on Monday. They are 5-5-0 in their last 10, having played 41 games at home and 38 on the road. No games left at home and three games on the road.
Detroit - beat Toronto 3-2 on Saturday to move into third place in the Atlantic. 5-5-0 in last 10. Six points behind Isles, who have one game in hand. The Flyers win Wednesday put them two points ahead of Detroit and they also have one game in hand. One points behind Boston but with no games in hand. (played 39 games at home, 38 on road, two left at home, three on road.
Boston loses 6-4 to Chicago on Sunday and are now 3-7-0 in last 10. That loss moved them behind Detroit and out of the playoffs as of right now. They trail TB by five points and Fla by nine all three teams have played 79 games. Detroit is one point ahead of Boston in third in the Atlantic with each team playing 79 games. The Bruins have played 38 games at home and 41 on the road. Three games left at home and none on the road.
Summary: After a disappointing road trip, a solid win at home against the Panthers followed by one over Boston, a victory in Montreal, overtime loss to Pittsburgh and defeat by Carolina. Home loss to Buffalo and then playoff clinching in Columbus. There is still work to be done, as the team needs to stop playing a shell and laying back on their heels in the third period. The Rangers the past several seasons have been excellent down the stretch, to lock in a specific spot, they may need to do the same thus year. Upcoming schedule is no cake walk. Remaining games overall are three at home and none on the road. The Rangers are going to get no help from others, so they will need to keep winning in order to maintain a top-three seed in division.
In order:
3/21- Fla - win 4-2 3/23 - Bos - win 5-2 3/26 - @Mtl - win 5-2 3/27 - Pit - lost 3-2 in overtime 3/31 - @Car - lost 4-3 4/2 - Buf - lost 4-3 4/4 - @CBJ - won 4-2 4/5 - TB 4/7 - NYI 4/9 - Det