NHL playoff picture: Rangers grab top spot, Bruins' collapse continues
The New York Rangers routed their way to the NHL's number-one spot by beating the best team in the Western Conference, and the Boston Bruins' playoff hopes took a serious hit in a critical loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Here's how the playoff picture looks after a light but impactful Sunday slate:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 73 | 99 |
| Tampa Bay | 73 | 97 |
| Detroit | 71 | 89 |
The Lightning defeated the Bruins 5-3 on home ice, moving to within two points of the idle Montreal Canadiens with the same amount of games remaining. The Detroit Red Wings kept pace with an overtime win over the St. Louis Blues.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| New York Rangers | 71 | 99 |
| New York Islanders | 73 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh | 72 | 90 |
The Rangers walloped the Anaheim Ducks 7-2 at Madison Square Garden and moved into top spot in the NHL. Both the Canadiens and Ducks also have 99 points, but the Rangers have games in hand.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 73 | 88 |
| Boston | 73 | 84 |
| Ottawa | 71 | 83 |
| Florida | 72 | 80 |
The Bruins suffered their fifth consecutive loss, and the Ottawa Senators are now one point behind Boston with two games in hand.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Washington (W1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
New York Rangers (M1) vs. Boston (W2)
New York Islanders (M2) vs. Pittsburgh (M3)
Western Conference
Central
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 73 | 97 |
| Nashville | 73 | 96 |
| Chicago | 71 | 92 |
The Blues' loss to the Red Wings was good news for the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 74 | 99 |
| Vancouver | 72 | 88 |
| Calgary | 72 | 84 |
The Ducks still have a comfortable lead in the division despite being blown out by the Rangers, while the Canucks earned a victory over the Arizona Coyotes and have two games in hand.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 72 | 87 |
| Winnipeg | 72 | 86 |
None of the teams in the wild card hunt (the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets or Los Angeles Kings) played on Sunday.
Current Matchups
St. Louis (C1) vs. Minnesota (W1)
Nashville (C2) vs. Chicago (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Winnipeg (W2)
Vancouver (P2) vs. Calgary (P3)
Race for Last
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 72 | 47 |
| Arizona | 73 | 50 |
| Edmonton | 72 | 53 |
Only the Arizona Coyotes took the ice Sunday, and they lost to the Canucks.