In the Thick of It

We essentially knew two weeks ago that the Rangers' current situation is the best we could have hoped for. The Rangers have taken care of business admirably in their past six games, but all the good feelings generated by the current string of wins can be tossed aside from this point on. As if to prove that point, the Flyers handed the Red Wings (who were kind enough to start Chris Osgood) their first regulation loss in 12 games earlier today.

If the hockey gods are on the Rangers' side, the Capitals will play to win against the Bruins tomorrow night, giving the Rangers the chance to snuggle into a three-way tie for seventh place if they beat Buffalo on Tuesday. That scenario aside, our focus in the coming days should be the same as it's been for the past two weeks: On Philadelphia.

Because the Flyers own the tie-breaker, any single point won by the Rangers or lost by the Flyers between now and the start of the upcoming home-and-home will guarantee that the Rangers can finish ahead of the Flyers by sweeping the home-and-home. (A regulation or overtime loss today by Philadelphia would have done the trick.)

The Sabres still have much to play for, so the game in Buffalo on Tuesday night will be an enormous test. Despite the desperation of the situation, any points gained in Buffalo must be seen as a precious bonus. One night later, the Rangers host the Maple Leafs, the same team that the Flyers will face when the Rangers play the Sabres. The Leafs are a wild card, but if the Rangers play their game, this should -must- be a win.

The best thing we can mathematically dream about now is a two-point lead for the Rangers heading into the final weekend; Disappointing when compared to the hypothetical scenario had the Wings beaten the Flyers, but something we'd clearly have taken in a heartbeat two weeks -or even one week- ago.

The Rangers' wins in Florida are history. The Flyers won their last game. Points cannot be left on the table. The most important game of the year is Tuesday night in Buffalo.