The New York Rangers famously sent their fans a letter two seasons ago, transparently laying out that the club was going to be going through some tough times in the short term, but that they’d return to being a top contender soon enough. Well, it appears the rebuild has gone quicker than many had hoped. With their 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, New York is just two points out of a wild-card spot, with two games in hand. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are no certainty, but it appears the month of March will be much more exciting for Rangers fans than many had assumed at the start of the season.
Here’s where things stand heading into Friday’s five-game slate, including Minnesota Wild–Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins–Anaheim Ducks streaming live on ESPN+.
Note: Playoff chances are courtesy of Money Puck, while tragic numbers are per the NHL’s Damian Echevarrieta.
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Eastern standings | Western standings
Race for No. 1 pick | Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: Atlantic 1
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ NYI
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: Atlantic 2
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. CGY
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Atlantic 3
Games left: 17 (9 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. VAN
Playoff chances: 83.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: Metro 1
Games left: 18 (9 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 1: @ MIN
Playoff chances: 98.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Metro 2
Games left: 20 (9 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ ANA
Playoff chances: 88.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Metro 3
Games left: 19 (10 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. NYR
Playoff chances: 91.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. BOS
Playoff chances: 68.0%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. MIN
Playoff chances: 37.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20 (9 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 68.1%
Tragic number: 39
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 1: vs. PHI
Playoff chances: 40.9%
Tragic number: 37
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. CHI
Playoff chances: 20.9%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (6 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. CAR
Playoff chances: 2.1%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (8 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ VGS
Playoff chances: 1.6%
Tragic number: 29
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ LA
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17 (6 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. DET
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 15
Points: 34
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17 (9 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ OTT
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: Eliminated
Western Conference
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Central 1
Games left: 17 (8 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. DAL
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: Central 2
Games left: 20 (10 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ CAR
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Central 3
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ STL
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Pacific 1
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. BUF
Playoff chances: 98.0%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Pacific 2
Games left: 19 (10 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ TOR
Playoff chances: 76.0%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: Pacific 3
Games left: 18 (11 home, 7 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. WPG
Playoff chances: 77.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 17 (11 home, 6 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ TB
Playoff chances: 73.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 56.0%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ EDM
Playoff chances: 27.7%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. BUF
Playoff chances: 26.7%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (8 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ CBJ
Playoff chances: 58.4%
Tragic number: 36
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (11 home, 7 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ FLA
Playoff chances: 7.2%
Tragic number: 29
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (11 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 23
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (12 home, 6 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. NJ
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 17
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select Alexis Lafreniere.
Find out more about Lafreniere here, read up on the rest of the top draft prospects here, and check out all of our 2020 NHL draft coverage.
Points: 34
Regulation wins: 12
Chance of No. 1 pick: 18.5%
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 20
Chance of No. 1 pick: 9.5% (Note: pick belongs to Ottawa)
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 8.5%
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Chance of No. 1 pick: 7.5%
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6.5%
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6%
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 5%
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 27
Chance of No. 1 pick: 3.5%
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Chance of No. 1 pick: 3%
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Chance of No. 1 pick: 2.5%
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Chance of No. 1 pick: 2%
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30
Chance of No. 1 pick: 1.5%
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Chance of No. 1 pick: 1%
Current playoff matchups
(A1) Bruins vs. (WC2) Blue Jackets
(A2) Lightning vs. (A3) Maple Leafs
(M1) Capitals vs. (WC1) Islanders
(M2) Penguins vs. (M3) Flyers
(P1) Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Flames
(P2) Canucks vs. (P3) Oilers
(C1) Blues vs. (WC2) Predators
(C2) Avalanche vs. (C3) Stars