Rangers Lose Ground, Stars Still In It

Nothing new was decided on Thursday night, but the squeeze became a little tighter in both conferences, making the last three days of the season, that much more interesting.

The Rangers dropped a decision to the Thrashers, meaning that the Hurricanes are now only 2 points back with a game in hand.  This means that the Rangers will need some help this weekend, hoping that the Hurricanes, who have been hot of late, falter at the finish line.

The other team of note that played last night, the Dallas Stars, they gave the Avalanche a 4-2 drubbing, inching themselves into a position where the last two games for the Ducks and Blackhawks, who still control their own destiny, will need to be played with some caution of falling out the bottom.

So, let's quickly head to Friday night, where 10 games are on the schedule and there will be some great importance on a number of them.  I'll start from the beginning of the night, finding the important games to the clinching/elimination discussion and work my way to the late games.

The night starts off with the Penguins and Islanders, but a division title isn't exactly what we're after, so I'll quickly move on.

The Blackhawks are going to try and keep their head above water, the 8th place position in the West, going into Detroit to take on the Blackhawks.  The Hawks control their own destiny here, they could help themselves out greatly with a win, preferably a regulation win, but 2 points is 2 points.  They could move to 97 points with a win, likely discussing tie-breaking situations out of a shootout win, but they would likely be safe.  A regulation loss would open the door for the Stars to make it even more interesting, while an overtime/shootout loss would at least keep their hopes in a playoff position, regardless of how the rest of the evening went.

The Sabres are looking to clinch their spot with a point over the Flyers.  Making it to overtime will clinch their spot, making the Carolina/Atlanta game meaningless to their efforts, although a regulation loss will keep the Sabres in the mix, waiting on the result from the other game.  If the Sabres play for overtime, they'll be in good shape and we won't have to talk about what they'll need to do on Sunday, like it's a big deal or something.

The Hurricanes and the Thrashers go, also at 5:30pm, and Carolina has the ability to control some of their own destiny, now that the Rangers have dropped the ball a bit.  With a regulation/overtime win, the Hurricanes would move into 8th spot in the East, by virtue of the wins tie-breaker.  A shootout win would move the Hurricanes into 8th, since the record against the Rangers is in their favour this season, at 2-0-2.  A regulation loss would mean the Rangers would only need 1 point to clinch on Saturday, while an overtime loss would mean the Rangers need any sort of win on Saturday.

Florida heads to Tampa for a nothing game.

Nashville can clinch a playoff berth by their own hand on Friday night with a point over the Blue Jackets.  If they so happen to not make it to overtime or win it outright, the Predators could clinch on an Avalanche win, either in regulation or the shootout, an hour later in Denver.  Very simple math there.

Which brings us to the game in Denver, as the Stars and Avalanche play the second half of a home and home series.  The Stars will be paying close attention to the Blackhawks and Red Wings game, since they have a tie-breaker on them.  The Stars need to win in regulation to bring their total up to 95 points and that would at least keep Sunday interesting.  A loss, which is improbable, would virtually knock them out with the season series against the Chicago holding them in by a nose hair.  If Chicago loses in overtime and the Stars lose in regulation, the race is over.  Fairly straight forward finish, but I don't see that happening.

Minnesota and Edmonton... nothing there.

San Jose and Phoenix go next and the onus will be on the Coyotes to finish up strong in the first half of a home and home series.  All the Coyotes need is a point out of this game and they are into the playoffs... if not Friday night, then Saturday night, assuming the Stars keep winning.  If the Coyotes lose this home and home in regulation and the Stars keep winning, there might be more things to worry about in the desert.  For now, the Coyotes have their fates in their own possession.  The Sharks are clear, trying to wrap up 2nd place in the West, so there is some motivation to keep playing well.

Finally, the Kings and the Ducks in a pretty huge game.  The Kings are clinched and going to the dance, while the Ducks are flapping their wings like crazy, trying to make it in.  The Ducks own the tie-break over the Stars, so a win of any kind will send Anaheim into the playoffs.  No need for any extra points, win and they are in.  A regulation loss keeps everything interesting, while an overtime/shootout loss will keep them ahead of the Stars for at least one more night.  The Ducks and Kings are playing a home and home series as well, so the Kings and Sharks are out to play spoilers to their division foes.

Both races look like they are not going to finish right away, but this is why they all play the games... it's all very simple on paper.