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It's Friday, folks, and I'm ready for my weekly Ask The Maven question. This one comes from Esa Newton of Manhattan. Go to it, Esa:
ODDS ON THE RANGERS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS VARY. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE RIGHT NOW?
The Maven replies: Let me point out that – back in January – The Athletic did an exhaustive story about the Rangers crisis. In the story it stated that the odds were less than 30 percent, or some ungodly negative figure.
A lot has happened since then including the fact that the Blueshirts have relentlessly moved right smack into the playoff mix. That said, an NHL.com poll of 14 of its experts revealed that only three believe that Peter Laviolette's squad can get to the playoffs.
The Maven is with those three. Unlike analytics fanatics, I prefer to go by "feel," if you will.
Call it anything you like but I rely on experience and history; rather than odds. So, I'll tell you here and now that the Rangers will make the playoffs.
In fact, I'll now point out that in the 1949-50 season, the New Yorkers finished the regular season UNDER .500. Yet they made the playoffs and beat heavily-favored Montreal in the opening round and darn near won The Stanley Cup.
That fateful spring of 1950 saw the Rangers take Detroit to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final before losing in double overtime.
The oddsmakers in Vegas won't agree but I say that – in my mind – the odds are GOOD that the Blueshirts will gain a Wild Card berth. Furthermore, I'll go a step further and predict that New York will win the first playoff round!
I hope, Esa, that I answered your question. Thanks for asking!
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