The Rangers have moved up into 7th spot tonight following the Ottawa Senators 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Ottawa and the Rangers had been tied for 7th, but Ottawa had one more game in hand and thus was seeded higher.  Following the loss, both teams have now completed 45 games, but the Rangers hold the first tiebreaker with 20 Regulation/OT wins over Ottawa’s 19.

The 9th placed Winnipeg Jets also pulled within a point of the Blueshirts and Sens, following a win over the Buffalo Sabres, but have only two games remaining and face another almost must win game tomorrow against a surging Capitals team.

New York could clinch a playoff spot tomorrow if they beat the Panthers and the Jets lose in regulation, and could even reach 6th spot if the Islanders also lose to Carolina.