The Rangers have done everything possible to secure the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference; now they need some help down in Tampa Bay. Although New Jersey got on the board early, the Rangers answered right back with a Chris Drury backhand. With only 42 seconds remaining in the first period, New Jersey sniper Illya Kovalchuk danced through the Rangers defense and snapped a shot past Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist. It didn’t take the Rangers long to raise the spirits in Madison Square Garden. Only 1:52 into the second period, the Rangers knotted the score at two. After a poor line change by the Devils, the Rangers raced toward the New Jersey net on a two on one. Wojtek Wolski would convert on the play setting off a huge celebration by the New York faithful. The Rangers would cruise the rest of the way finishing off with a 5-2 victory. Throughout the Garden crowd “Let’s go Lightning!” chants were bellowed. If the Lightning are able to defeat the Hurricanes tonight, I’m sure there will be a few more Tampa Bay fans in New York.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Last Weekend of Regular Season Play Starts Today
This last weekend of regular season games will determine which teams will seize hold of the last remaining playoff berths in both the Eastern and Western Conference.
Eastern Conference
As far as the Eastern Conference is concerned, only the eighth place spot is still up for grabs by either the New York Rangers or the Carolina Hurricanes. Eighteen year old Jeff Skinner led Carolina last night with 3 points in a 6-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. The win was crucial for Carolina to keep their playoff hopes in their own hands as they head into their final game against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight.
A New York victory over the New Jersey Devils this afternoon would put Carolina in a must-win situation against Tampa Bay tonight. The Rangers must win or else they will fall short of the playoffs on the final game of the season two years in a row, and Carolina will clinch the final playoff spot in the East. The Rangers can clinch today if they win their own game and the Hurricanes fall short to the Lightning. If both New York and Carolina win, each team would end their 82 game regular season with 93 points. A tie would favor the Hurricanes who won the season series between the two teams.
A New York victory over the New Jersey Devils this afternoon would put Carolina in a must-win situation against Tampa Bay tonight. The Rangers must win or else they will fall short of the playoffs on the final game of the season two years in a row, and Carolina will clinch the final playoff spot in the East. The Rangers can clinch today if they win their own game and the Hurricanes fall short to the Lightning. If both New York and Carolina win, each team would end their 82 game regular season with 93 points. A tie would favor the Hurricanes who won the season series between the two teams.
My predictions for this weekend’s crucial games in the East:
New Jersey Devils @ New York Rangers
The Rangers will emerge victorious despite the loss of injured assistant captain Ryan Callahan. Callahan broke his leg earlier this week after heroically blocking a slap shot from Bruins defensemen Zdeno Chara who wields the hardest shot in the league. Ranger players will overcome the adversity and end their final regular season game with a win.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Carolina Hurricanes
Eric Stall and Jeff Skinner will lead Carolina’s offense, as they have all year, to a win over Tampa Bay tonight. Cam Ward, currently boasting a .923 save percentage (tied for second best in the NHL with Montreal’s Carey Price), will set the tone for Carolina’s defensive play and prove why he is one of the best goaltenders in the league.
The bottom line is that a playoff spot is going to be won and a playoff spot is going to be lost today. Both Carolina and the Rangers will be playing desperate hockey, and both will take advantage of their home ice and fan support to get the job done.
Western Conference
Things get slightly trickier in the Western Conference where the difference between fourth place and tenth place is only a mere six points. The Dallas Stars are currently on the outside looking in as they sit in ninth place with 95 points. Ahead of them are the defending 2010 Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, who currently hold control of the eighth spot with 97 points. The Blackhawks control their own destiny, and just need one point against the Detroit Redwings tomorrow. A 3-2 Dallas win tonight over the Colorado Avalanche keeps Dallas in the playoff race and puts them in what has potential to be a must-win situation in Minnesota tomorrow. Dallas will know before their 6:00pm game begins tomorrow whether or not they will fighting for a playoff spot based on the outcome of the Chicago vs. Detroit game that starts six hours earlier at noon.
To make a long story short: Chicago advances if they win vs. Detroit, Chicago advances if their game vs. Detroit goes into overtime, Chicago advances if both Chicago and Dallas lose, but Dallas advances if they win vs. Minnesota and Chicago loses in regulation vs. Detroit.
My predictions for this weekend’s crucial games in the West:
Detroit Red Wings @ Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago simply will not fall short of making the playoffs this year after winning the Stanley Cup last year. Similar to the East, Chicago will be playing desperate hockey with a lot on the line. The atmosphere at the one game I have been to at the United Center in Chicago was out of control. I distinctly remember the crowd being so loud throughout the last half of the national anthem, I couldn’t even hear it. The United Center is going to be a hostile environment for Detroit to play in and Chicago will get the win.
Dallas Stars @ Minnesota Wild
I am confident that Chicago will win at least a point tomorrow at noon, this game will not have any playoff implications, and therefore the winner is not important. If by some chance Detroit happens to beat Chicago, I am going to give Dallas the benefit of the doubt in this situation and say that they will beat Minnesota out of desperate determination.
It’s amazing that after 81 games, the playoff race comes down to the very last weekend.
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