Home Delivery

Rangers Insider: Season comes down to final 10

Henrik Lundqvist (right) and the Rangers lost two straight in Florida during a recent trip. (Alan Diaz/The Associated Press / March 17, 2008)

BY STEVE ZIPAY | steve.zipay@newsday.com

7:11 PM EDT, March 17, 2008

Article tools

E-mail

Share
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
- Facebook
- Fark
- Google
- Newsvine
- Reddit
- Yahoo

While college hoops diehards and office poolies angling to make a buck on upsets are bracketizing the Final Four, Rangers fans are eyeing the final 10.

For months, Rangers coach Tom Renney and veteran players such as Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Drury have said the season would come down to the last 10 divisional games: three against the Penguins, three against the Devils and two each with the Flyers and Islanders.

Is there reason for concern that the Rangers, with 83 points, won't make the playoffs after the two-game spinout on Alligator Alley?

Some, but not in this corner, although coach Tom Renney needs to be cognizant of which players are freshest in the three remaining back to backs. The Rangers had no legs in Saturday's 3-0 loss to Tampa.

Against their Atlantic Division foes, the Rangers (15-6-1) have earned 31 points in 22 games, and three of those losses were to the Islanders before Nov. 7. With five games at home and five away, the Rangers should pick up at least 12 points, which would give them 95,. That should be enough for sixth place in the Eastern Conference and a first-round playoff matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes, who appear to be positioned to win the Southeast Division and therefore, third place in the conference.

There's no doubt that the six games with the Devils and Penguins will be intense; Marian Hossa is back for Pittsburgh, and Sidney Crosby, although sidelined for Tuesday night's game at Madison Square Garden, presumably will be healthy for the other two at the end of the month. The Devils, hosting the Rangers in Newark Wednesday, are rolling, and will try to break their winless-in-five record against them. On Friday, the Rangers visit the banged-up, sliding Flyers, who are trying to hold on to the eighth and final playoff berth.

The Islanders won't face the Rangers until April 3 and 4, but will have nothing to lose; playing the Rangers will substitute for their postseason and you know they'd love to knock down the Blueshirts.

But the Rangers, at least recently, seem to play with more intensity, more desperation when under pressure. The power play (1-for-9 in Florida and 3-for-34 in the last 10 games) is overdue and the Rangers' overworked, patched-together defense will have Marek Malik (clavicle sprain) back either Tuesday or Wednesday. Paul Mara (facial surgery) should return next week.

Something else to factor in: Both the Bruins and Flyers have played one more game than the Rangers, and although Buffalo, Washington and Florida are in the hunt for eighth place in the conference,, the Rangers have two games in hand on the Panthers (eight games left) and a game in hand on both the Capitals, who they lead by five, and the Sabres, who are behind by four.

Bear in mind that Boston and Buffalo have heavy divisional matchups as well. The Bruins have two games left with Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo and Toronto and one with the Devils; The Sabres face Ottawa, Montreal Boston and Toronto twice each and Tampa once. And Washington (embarking on a six-game road trip), Florida and Carolina will pair up several times in the Southeast.

A smooth journey for anyone? Doubt it.

Heard and Seen

In Sunrise, Fla., before the Panthers game, some politically-misguided fans had an "Avery for President" sign . . . Henrik Lundqvist's next win will be his 100th as a Ranger . . . Unlike most winter-weary New Yorkers who might have wanted to linger among the sand and the palms in Florida, Scott Gomez was ready to fly after the Tampa loss: "Get on the plane. It's over with." Hey Scott, you and the team should've stayed: The weather is gorgeous.

Future Blue

LW Jordan Owens and C Mike Ouellette each had their first two-goal games in the AHL as the Hartford Wolf Pack went 2-1 this past the weekend. Owens, 21, and Ouellette, 25, each scored three times in the three games. Owens had just two goals in his first 32 games with the Pack; Ouellette, who has received more ice time since Dane Byers' suspension and Alex Bourret's concussion, has eight goals. The Pack is 39-19-8 and tied for second place in the conference.

Get breaking news | Most popular stories | Dining and Travel deals all via e-mail!

Would you recommend this?

Rate it: