Only 14 Games Left

It's crazy that the season is so close to being over. What's even crazier is that the Rangers sit only 5 points out of first place in the conference. The Rangers have the chance to move up very far in the standings or drop also. I want to analyze what the Rangers have left this season.

After this week with games against a Boston team right on our tail, a Buffalo team still fighting to get into the playoffs and two Florida teams that just keep giving everyone problems, the Rangers will only play Atlantic Division opponents. First we have to worry about beating a Boston team that we haven't played so well against. They are tied with us after beating Washington today. That makes it a huge game. Any leg up the Rangers can get on the Bruins would be huge. After that is Buffalo and they are fighting tooth and nail to make the playoffs so they will be fired up and will be another test and tough game. The Rangers could really separate themselves from the 9th place team with a win against Buffalo, getting them closer to officially wrapping a playoff spot. They will be two huge games.

The games against the Panthers and Lightning scare me a little bit. The Panthers recently crushed the Pens and the Lightning gave both Philly and New Jersey problems recently. Obviously they are both game we are supposed to win but nothing is a guarantee in this conference. We need to take advantage of those two games by getting all 4 points because those are the easiest opponents the Rangers have left. I see the Rangers getting no less than 3 points in those games.

After this week the Rangers will play every team in the Atlantic Division multiple times. Here is a list of who we will be playing and how many times:

Devils: 3 times - 1 Home and 2 Away
Penguins: 3 times - 2 Home and 1 Away
Flyers: 2 times - 1 Home and 1 Away
Islanders: 2 times - 1 Home and 1 Away

We play the teams above us in the standings more than the ones below us, which can be good and bad. The Rangers are only 5 points behind the Devils (they will be playing tonight and could be more but we will have a game in hand on them) and 4 behind the Pens with a game in hand against them. With 6 points available against each team, it’s not out of the question that we can win the division.

The Rangers are 15-6-1 against the Atlantic division. That is easily the best record amongst the division. The Rangers even have the second best record in the Eastern Conference against Eastern Conference opponents. Because of these records and the way the Rangers have been playing and who they are playing I think we have a very very good chance to win the division. I personally can't see the Rangers falling below 6th place but going as high as the 1st seed. Being in 6th would be nice, playing the winner of the lowly Southeast division (remind you of last year). We will have to wait and see what happens but I have a very good feeling that the Rangers are going to be in a great spot come the last day of the season April 6^th and have a very good chance to make a nice playoff run.