Around the NHL: Part XLIV 2025)

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Two games that matter to us today in terms of making the playoffs:

Montreal @ Florida
Islanders @ Carolina

If both Montreal and the Islanders lose, we will need Columbus to lose one of their next 2 games in order to control our own destiny. We've been in that spot before, though, and haven't been able to hold serve. Six of our last 8 games are against teams ahead of us, so even if those other teams lose, we are going to have a hard time not falling back again.

Other games of potential importance:

Ottawa @ Pittsburgh
Utah @ Chicago
Toronto @ Anaheim

At this point, I don't think the devils will miss the playoffs, but Ottawa passing them would be fun to see. Pittsburgh is 8 points behind us. With 8 games to go, there's very little chance they will pass us. I also don't think we can catch Ottawa, so I'd rather see them win.

Utah is at 76 points with 9 games left. If they win today, they will move past us in the league standings with the same number of games remaining.

Anaheim is at 72 points, 5 points behind us, but they have 10 games left. They could potentially pass us.

If we end up missing the playoffs, that means one of Montreal, Columbus and the Islanders will make it. The two that don't, plus Vancouver, Calgary, Utah, Anaheim and Detroit, will determine where our pick lands pre-lottery.

We could miss the playoffs and finish anywhere from 9th to 16th. My hope in that scenario is that we at least fall to 11th so that we have a shot at #1 overall in the lottery. Finishing 14th to 16th and not winning the lottery won't be fun, but at least we won't have to worry about giving up next year's pick.

We are currently in the 15th spot in terms of points, but 17th because we hold a playoff position. It will almost certainly come down to the last game to see where we end up.

My ideal scenario for today is losses by Montreal and the Islanders, and wins by Ottawa, Utah and Anaheim.

Good breakdown. Ottawa cannot pass NJ because they are in the Atlantic.

 

[GAGLine]

Good breakdown. Ottawa cannot pass NJ because they are in the Atlantic.

Oh yeah. Good call. I wasn't thinking about that.

I guess it doesn't matter then. The devils can lose to Carolina just as well.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Oh yeah. Good call. I wasn't thinking about that.

I guess it doesn't matter then. The devils can lose to Carolina just as well.

Its going to be my only schadenfreude pleasure of the playoffs watching them get smoked.

 

[archanfelnsx]

Of course the Panthers lose at home in regulation to Montreal who regain the WC2 spot. The Canadiens are 3-0 this season against the Panthers. If Montreal loses on Tuesday in regulation to the Panthers, then the Rangers regain the WC2 spot assuming the Islanders, CBJ, and Detroit do not catch them in the standings by then.

 

[Jack Hanson]

If the Rangers can beat the Devils at home 4/5 at that point I will reach self actualization on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

This league sucks

 

[Megustaelhockey]

Having to rely on other teams brings back so much dark ages anxiety for me.

 

[GAGLine]

Montreal plays Florida again on Tuesday, in Montreal. They've been better at home than on the road, but I think they'll have a hard time beating Florida twice in a row. If they fail to get a point in that game, we move back ahead of them.

The Islanders play tonight in Carolina and Tuesday in Tampa. If they don't get all 4 points, we stay ahead of them.

Columbus is home to Nashville on Tuesday. If they win, they'll move ahead of us by virtue of still having a game in hand.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

Its come to the point now where we were so bad all year we have to rely on like 4 different teams and scenarios. I don't think we're making it in, unless we win the games WE play. Forget about everyone else, we have 8 games left way I see it, win 6/8 and you're in. 5 and lower things get dicey and they're not in our favor. The extra point in the Ottawa and Anaheim games is going to really haunt us

 

[turcotte8]

This league sucks

"would it help if we added 12 more teams?" Gary Bettman

 

[leetch99]

I feel sorry for people torturing themselves over the fate of the team....the players simply do not care....so I see no reason for us fans to care . Let the pick go to Pens this season....keep the chance of a first next year not being a Penguin via the Ranger pick . Then again we likely trade that one next year as well.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

"would it help if we added 12 more teams?" Gary Bettman

None of them in Canada.

 

[turcotte8]

None of them in Canada.

of course not, how about 6 in Atlanta and 6 in Texas

 

[GAGLine]

I feel sorry for people torturing themselves over the fate of the team....the players simply do not care....so I see no reason for us fans to care . Let the pick go to Pens this season....keep the chance of a first next year not being a Penguin via the Ranger pick . Then again we likely trade that one next year as well.

I'm not torturing myself. I just like to quantify things so I can more easily see what needs to happen to achieve different outcomes.

 

[NickyFotiu]

of course not, how about 6 in Atlanta and 6 in Texas

I believe Texas actually has the most pro hockey teams (NHL and minors) or they did in the past.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

of course not, how about 6 in Atlanta and 6 in Texas

Bring back the Macon Whoopee.

 

[FoxyClean]

Butch Goring needs to be put in a home somewhere, he’s delusional and insufferable. Brendan Burke actually isn’t bad at all, I feel bad for him.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Buffalo fun team lately. They either score or give up 8 every night

 

[Larrybiv]

I used to love watching Ranger games like that.......oh wait, maybe I'm dillusional. Probably need to stand corrected. I used to like the "possibility" of scoring 5 or 6, while KNOWING we would give up 6 or 7.

 

[Machinehead]

Shaping up to be 2 vs 4 in the West in the first round. League is a joke.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Shaping up to be 2 vs 4 in the West in the first round. League is a joke.

Baffling that they haven't even considered going back to 1-8. Maybe when Bettman retires.

 

[Machinehead]

Baffling that they haven't even considered going back to 1-8. Maybe when Bettman retires.

Nah, they love it.

They drank their own Kool-Aid on "creating rivalries."

 

[Bob Richards]

Nah, they love it.

They drank their own Kool-Aid on "creating rivalries."

I’m not a sage nor wise. I can’t predict the future. Too many variables can carry a timeline into destinations once thought impossible.

But what I do know is no matter what this world looks like moving forward, the Los Angeles Kings will play the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

 

[Machinehead]

I’m not a sage nor wise. I can’t predict the future. Too many variables can carry a timeline into destinations once thought impossible.

But what I do know is no matter what this world looks like moving forward, the Los Angeles Kings will play the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

Yes and it's created such an electric rivalry.

 

[Larrybiv]

I’m not a sage nor wise. I can’t predict the future. Too many variables can carry a timeline into destinations once thought impossible.

But what I do know is no matter what this world looks like moving forward, the Los Angeles Kings will play the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

Seems every year doesn't it?