The Rangers visit the Flyers for the final time this season. Having gone 5-1-1 in their last seven, the Rangers sit eighth with 46 points. By virtue of their big overtime win over the Islanders, they trail their nemesis by a point for seventh with seven left. Our team has a game at hand with the Islanders only having six remaining, including their home tilt against the Panthers. The Isles and Cats go off first at 7 PM. The Blueshirts battle the Flyers at 7:30 PM on NBC Sports. 

While each Battle Of New York club seeks victory, they’ll also have a curious eye on the Senators and Hurricanes. Ottawa is sixth with 48 points. Due to the postponement of yesterday’s game at Boston due to the horrible tragedy on Patriots’ Day, the Sens still have seven left. No makeup date has been set. However, they are in action against a club that hasn’t done much winning. The Canes did defeat the Bruins last time out. They’ll look to play the role of spoiler. 

Winnipeg is also in action at 8 PM. The ninth ranked Jets trail the Rangers by two for the final spot. With 44 points, they have six to go including at home against the Lightning. Another team trying to play spoiler. The same can be said for the league worst Panthers, who have been dreadful. Don’t tell the Islanders or Rangers that. Both must beat them to better their chances. 

On the flip side, Winnipeg is hoping to chase down the Capitals for the Southeast. Led by the league’s leading sniper Alex Ovechkin, the Caps have caught fire reeling off seven straight to take a four point lead on the Jets. Both have six to go including tonight. Washington hosts Toronto at 7 PM. The Leafs continue to be a great story. A shutout win over the Devils inched them closer to their first playoff berth in nine years. In fact, the fifth ranked Leafs have 53 points and trail the Bruins by three for home ice. The Canadiens are clinging onto the Northeast lead with 57 following consecutive blowout defeats.

Meanwhile, the Sabres are making a late bid to sneak in. Their 3-1 win over Tampa put them 10th with 42 points. Four out with only five left. No margin for error. Buffalo faces Boston tomorrow and the Rangers on Friday. They might have to run the table. The way this season’s gone, you never know. 

Out West, things are tight thanks to the Blue Jackets’ comeback win over the Avalanche yesterday. R.J. Umberger forced overtime and then Nick Foligno won it to tie Columbus with Detroit for eighth. The Red Wings have an extra game left but the Jackets own the tiebreaker in the event both finish with the same amount of ROW (regulation and overtime wins). Columbus has only five left while the Wings have six. Both are idle but will have an eye on the scoreboard with sixth Minnesota and seventh St. Louis each playing. The Wild held on to beat the Flames 4-3 Monday to move up to 49 points with six left. The Blues enter tonight off a 2-0 shutout loss to the Blackhawks. They host Vancouver at 8 with 48 points. The Wild are at another finished club, Edmonton who just fired their GM. 

The final game of the day pits a Battle Of California with the Kings visiting the Sharks for playoff positioning. Los Angeles ranks fourth with 52 points while San Jose is fifth with 51. Each have six left including the big match-up in the Pacific. 

One common denominator about April 16. All eight games have playoff implications. That’s why it’s the best time of year. There will be plenty of scoreboard watching along with channel flipping for fans. For myself, I’m most focused on the Rangers. On paper, they have a favorable schedule. All six are against teams behind them, including two large ones against the Devils (4/21 and 4/27). The Devil struggles are well documented. Losers of 10 straight since Marty Brodeur won game number 666. Plenty has been said about it. The Rangers face two of their biggest rivals. Both would love nothing better then to play spoiler. And I don’t think anything has to be said about how dangerous Florida and Carolina can be. 

Translation: Beat who’s left. It won’t come easy. It never should. The Rangers can take solace knowing Henrik Lundqvist is playing his best hockey. Including his first shutout at Nassau Coliseum, he’s allowed two-or-less in 12 of his last 13 starts. Suddenly, the Swedish King’s numbers are similar to last year. He’s 19-14-3 with a 2.06 GAA (goals-against-average) and .928 save percentage. They still need to score goals to support him. Now, would be an opportune time for Brad Richards to get hot. Otherwise, it falls on Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan. John Tortorella is hoping Derick Brassard will continue to make plays like the pass he made for Dan Girardi’s winner.

It’ll take a team effort to get it done.