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Last week we took a look at the odds for the five teams vying for the Eastern Conference's second and final wild card, but the calculus is constantly shifting at this time of year.
There have been some dramatic shifts in the last few days, with the Rangers, in particular, going from very much in the hunt to hanging on by a thread.
Postgame takeaways: It's time to stick a fork in the 2024-25 Rangers
Here's an updated look at where the contenders for the No. 8 seed stand entering play Tuesday, with about a week and a half left in the 2024-25 NHL regular season:
Total points: 85
Points percentage: .552
Remaining games: 5
Regulation wins: 28
Last 10 games: 5-3-2
Strength of remaining schedule: .546 (17th hardest)
Analysis: The spot is Montreal's to lose at this point. The Habs have rattled off five straight wins to grab firm control, earning a six-point lead over both the Rangers and Red Wings. There's been some late-game magic on their side, with the easiest remaining schedule of the wild-card hopefuls to boot. It would require a serious collapse for the Canadiens not to end their four-year playoff drought.
Odds: 80%
Total points: 79
Points percentage: .520
Remaining games: 6
Regulation wins: 28
Last 10: 5-4-1
SOS: .613 (2nd)
Analysis: The Wings have keep themselves afloat while slogging through the most difficult remaining schedule of the bunch. They've won three of their last four, including two in a row against playoff-bound Carolina and Florida, and could really make things interesting with a head-to-head win over the Canadiens on Tuesday night. But even if that happens, it would still be an uphill climb. Each of Detroit's final five games will come against teams who are heading to the postseason.
Odds: 8%
Total points: 79
Points percentage: .513
Remaining games: 5
Regulation wins: 32
Last 10: 3-6-1
SOS: .565 (12th)
Analysis: The Rangers blew their chance to stay in the race by face-planting in their last two games, losing to New Jersey and Tampa Bay by a combined score of 9-1. They'd essentially need to win out to have a chance, and even then, the Canadiens could still eliminate them by capturing five points or more in their final five games. It's fitting given the way this disastrous season has gone for the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner. They're on the verge of becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs the year after achieving the league's best record, with the 1992-93 Blueshirts also in that undesirable club.
Odds: 5%
Total points: 78
Points percentage: .513
Remaining games: 6
Regulation wins: 27
Last 10 games: 4-4-2
Strength of remaining schedule: .526 (tied 22nd)
Analysis: The Isles have been on life support for months but won't go down easy. They've had a few late gasps to keep themselves from being eliminated, most recently back-to-back wins over the Wild and Capitals. Their next few games are winnable, as well, with the Predators, Rangers and Flyers coming up. They could make things interesting if they sweep, but even then they'd need the Canadiens to stumble.
Odds: 4%
Total points: 77
Points percentage: .507
Remaining games: 6
Regulation wins: 24
Last 10 games: 3-6-1
Strength of remaining schedule: .573 (10th)
Analysis: It would have been an amazing story for the Jackets to end their five-year playoff drought after the heartbreak of Johnny Gaudreau's sudden passing just before the season began, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards. They've lost four of their last five, including three straight, to slip to the bottom of the pack in this jumbled race.
Odds: 3%
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers playoff odds: Chances dwindling in NHL wild card race
Continue reading...
There have been some dramatic shifts in the last few days, with the Rangers, in particular, going from very much in the hunt to hanging on by a thread.
Postgame takeaways: It's time to stick a fork in the 2024-25 Rangers
Here's an updated look at where the contenders for the No. 8 seed stand entering play Tuesday, with about a week and a half left in the 2024-25 NHL regular season:
Montreal Canadiens (38-30-9)
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Total points: 85
Points percentage: .552
Remaining games: 5
Regulation wins: 28
Last 10 games: 5-3-2
Strength of remaining schedule: .546 (17th hardest)
Analysis: The spot is Montreal's to lose at this point. The Habs have rattled off five straight wins to grab firm control, earning a six-point lead over both the Rangers and Red Wings. There's been some late-game magic on their side, with the easiest remaining schedule of the wild-card hopefuls to boot. It would require a serious collapse for the Canadiens not to end their four-year playoff drought.
Odds: 80%
Detroit Red Wings (36-33-7)
Total points: 79
Points percentage: .520
Remaining games: 6
Regulation wins: 28
Last 10: 5-4-1
SOS: .613 (2nd)
Analysis: The Wings have keep themselves afloat while slogging through the most difficult remaining schedule of the bunch. They've won three of their last four, including two in a row against playoff-bound Carolina and Florida, and could really make things interesting with a head-to-head win over the Canadiens on Tuesday night. But even if that happens, it would still be an uphill climb. Each of Detroit's final five games will come against teams who are heading to the postseason.
Odds: 8%
New York Rangers (36-34-7)
Total points: 79
Points percentage: .513
Remaining games: 5
Regulation wins: 32
Last 10: 3-6-1
SOS: .565 (12th)
Analysis: The Rangers blew their chance to stay in the race by face-planting in their last two games, losing to New Jersey and Tampa Bay by a combined score of 9-1. They'd essentially need to win out to have a chance, and even then, the Canadiens could still eliminate them by capturing five points or more in their final five games. It's fitting given the way this disastrous season has gone for the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner. They're on the verge of becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs the year after achieving the league's best record, with the 1992-93 Blueshirts also in that undesirable club.
Odds: 5%
New York Islanders (34-32-10)
Total points: 78
Points percentage: .513
Remaining games: 6
Regulation wins: 27
Last 10 games: 4-4-2
Strength of remaining schedule: .526 (tied 22nd)
Analysis: The Isles have been on life support for months but won't go down easy. They've had a few late gasps to keep themselves from being eliminated, most recently back-to-back wins over the Wild and Capitals. Their next few games are winnable, as well, with the Predators, Rangers and Flyers coming up. They could make things interesting if they sweep, but even then they'd need the Canadiens to stumble.
Odds: 4%
Columbus Blue Jackets (34-33-9)
Total points: 77
Points percentage: .507
Remaining games: 6
Regulation wins: 24
Last 10 games: 3-6-1
Strength of remaining schedule: .573 (10th)
Analysis: It would have been an amazing story for the Jackets to end their five-year playoff drought after the heartbreak of Johnny Gaudreau's sudden passing just before the season began, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards. They've lost four of their last five, including three straight, to slip to the bottom of the pack in this jumbled race.
Odds: 3%
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers playoff odds: Chances dwindling in NHL wild card race
Continue reading...
