It seems the Rangers’ good luck in the standings may be running out. Today, Carolina tallied a decisive victory over the Devils. The Hurricanes made New Jersey look more like an aimless squad than a team at the top of their division’s standings. The former Hartford Whalers chased Marty Brodeur from the net and then continued to score on Scott Clemmensen en route to a 7-2 win.
So again, the mantra remains that the Rangers are in control of their own destiny. Carolina has (and common sense should) proved that the Blueshirts can’t rely on losses by every other club vying for the final playoff berth. Tonight, the Bruins will be at the Garden and perhaps going up against a “lesser” club is just the opportunity the Rangers need. But Dave Lewis played a part in three Stanley Cup championships in Detroit and has proven at points this season that he can light a fire beneath his team. Will Tom Renney spark his team into making a definitive statement about their immediate future? With a win tonight, they will vault back into playoff position. But Carolina is now three points ahead. If the Leafs win tonight and the Rangers lose in regulation, Toronto will be the 8th seed, and the Rangers will be looking up a 9th place Islander club.
There are number of ways the chips may fall tonight for the Blueshirts, but a win in regulation-time is the only acceptable option … lest the playoff picture darken considerably.