Eastern Conference Playoff Races: Will Penguins have to go through Rangers, Bruins in first two rounds?

1. *Pittsburgh Penguins – 7 Games Remaining | 31-10-0, 62 pts

2. *Montreal Canadiens – 8 Games Remaining | 26-9-5, 57 pts

3. *Washington Capitals – 7 Games Remaining | 22-17-2, 46 pts

4. Boston Bruins – 8 Games Remaining | 26-10-4, 56 pts

5. Toronto Maple Leafs – 8 Games Remaining | 22-13-5, 49 pts

6. Ottawa Senators – 8 Games Remaining | 20-14-6, 46 pts

7. New York Islanders – 7 Games Remaining | 21-16-4, 46 pts

8. New York Rangers – 8 Games Remaining | 20-16-4, 44 pts

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9. Winnipeg Jets – 6 Games Remaining | 21-19-2, 44 pts

10. New Jersey Devils – 8 Games Remaining | 15-15-10, 40 pts

11. Buffalo Sabres – 7 Games Remaining | 16-19-6, 38 pts

12: Philadelphia Flyers – 8 Games Remaining | 17-20-3, 37 pts

13. Tampa Bay Lightning – 8 Games Remaining | 17-21-2, 36 pts

14. Carolina Hurricanes – 8 Games Remaining | 16-22-2, 34 pts

15. Florida Panthers – 8 Games Remaining | 13-21-6, 32 pts

The team with the most pressure in the stretch run is the New York Rangers. The preseason Cup favorites are hanging on to a bottom playoff spot as the Islanders, Jets and Senators all won last night. The Rangers, though, control their destiny for a playoff spot as they have two games in hand on the Jets.

Things are setting up where the Penguins possibly could have to go through the New York Rangers in a 1-8 first round matchup and a 1-4 second round matchup with the Boston Bruins.

The Rangers could give the Penguins a scare if Henrik Lundqvist gets hot but even if the Penguins are without Sidney Crosby, they should get by New York who can’t find any consistency in their game, but the main thing the Rangers could do is wear the Penguins down going into a potential second round matchup with the Bruins. Those would be two grueling series.