Things haven’t quite gone as planned for the Rangers this season, but they still somehow find themselves square in the mix for a playoff spot.
The Eastern Conference Wild Card race is truly a toss-up as things stand right now, and if New York were to heat back up down the stretch, they just might be able to scratch their way into a third straight postseason berth.
Here’s how things shape up with 10 games to play…
The Current Leaders
Ottawa Senators
Record: 38-28-5 (81 PTS)
While the race for the top spot appeared to be very close not too long ago, Ottawa has created some separation of late -- they now lead by seven points after taking home victories in seven of their last 10 games.
The Senators sit closer to the struggling New Jersey Devils for third place in the Metropolitan Division (three points) than any team behind them is to catching them for that top Eastern Conference Wild Card spot.
They picked up a huge regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.
Montreal Canadiens
Record: 33-29-9 (75 PTS)
Montreal is looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. They enter Friday occupying the second Wild Card spot.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis has his young and hungry club playing some great hockey this season, but they’ve fallen off a bit of late, dropping four in a row and seven of their last 10 games.
One of the most resilient clubs this year is looking to hold onto a slim one-point advantage.
On the outside looking in
New York Islanders
Record: 39-29-10 (74 PTS)
Even after selling off some of their key pieces ahead of the trade deadline, the Islanders have found their way back into the Wild Card mix.
New York sits just one point behind Montreal for that final playoff spot, but they’ve also been struggling of late. They're entering the weekend on a three-gane losing skid with losses in six of their last 10 games.
The Islanders play mainly playoff contenders down the stretch, starting with a meeting with the high-scoring Lightning on Saturday afternoon.
New York Rangers
Record: 34-32-6 (74 PTS)
The Rangers have been receiving tremendous goaltending from Igor Shesterkin of late, but they haven’t been able to find the back of the net consistency enough, and it’s led to some tough luck losses.
That’s been the case for this club all season long.
They finish up a West Coast road trip by taking on the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks over the next two days -- before closing out the season with seven of their eight games against playoff contenders.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 32-29-9 (73 PTS)
Columbus held that top spot just a couple of weeks ago, but then they hit one of their toughest stretch of the season, and went on a brutal six-game losing streak.
They were finally able to snap that with a massive shootout win over the Islanders on the road on Monday night, but they still remain two points out with three teams to jump and just 12 games to play.
That last part is a big key -- they have two games at hand on the Rangers and one on the rest of the field -- they also play the Senators twice and then finish the season against the Islanders on April 17.
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 33-33-6 (72 PTS)
Detroit squandered a huge opportunity to make up some ground on Thursday, as they were defeated by the Senators 4-3, handing them their 11th regulation loss in their last 14 games.
They now have 10 games left and four teams to jump for the second WC spot.