The NHL Playoffs are set to begin on April 30 on Tuesday and the final weekend saw a number of exciting games and matchups, including the New York Rangers surging to a regular season finish by defeating the New Jersey Devils for the second time in a week and clinching the sixth spot with some help from the Senators and they now will play the Washington Capitals in the postseason.
Last year the Rangers were the number one seed in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and played the Capitals in a seven game series in the second round and this year marks the third time in a row that the team are playing in the postseason. The Rangers knew that they were in the playoffs when the game started, but no idea where the seeding could end up and with a win they improved their standing into the sixth spot in the East. Rick Nash added two goals in the game and the Rangers now are assured of missing playing the Penguins in the opening round.
The Rangers have been clinging to the eighth spot for most of the second part of the season and have been playing excellent hockey down the stretch while rising in the conference. Brad Richards added two assists and New York has found its scoring touch since the trading deadline when they traded away Marian Gaborik and brought in Ryane Clowe. Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan added a goal and assist each and have added to the strong play of the team down the stretch. Henrik Lundqvist has been stellar for the Rangers and he shutout the Devils for his 45th career game of allowing zero goals.
The Rangers clinched their spot last week and now have gone 10-3-1 to end the season over their last 14 games. Nash has proven to be a valuable addition after the offseason trade and has now scored 20 goals in nine seasons, while the Rangers have some of the best momentum of any team heading into the playoffs. The Capitals won the Southeast division title and will play the Rangers, while the West matchups were also set on Saturday, as the Blackhawks and Wild will play in the one-eight matchup. Anaheim and Detroit, Vancouver and San Jose and St. Louis vs. Los Angeles will be the rest of the playoff series in the West.
The Blackhawks clinched their spot some time ago, while the Red Wings and Wild battled with the Blue Jackets for the final spots in the West. The other East teams include the Maple Leafs, Bruins, Islanders, Senators, and Canadiens, who are the number two seed. The Senators are currently in eighth win one to go for them, while the Rangers are now locked into the sixth spot ahead of the Islanders, who jumped ahead of the Rangers at one point but slumped to finish the season.
