Rangers await playoff opponent as Eastern Conference struggles

The Rangers season is less than four games away from conclusion and the team has yet to find out who will be their first round opponent in this year's playoffs. The Eastern Conference continues to struggle as teams are not finding separation with a logjam of teams eyeing two playoff spots.

Currently, the Rangers would face off against Detroit Red Wings in the first round as they have played 77 games and have 84 points. What's fascinating is that the Islanders, Penguins, capitals, Red Wings, and the Flyers are all within three points of two playoff spots and many of them in losing streaks.




Out of all those teams, the Penguins and the Islanders have looked like the better teams and seemed to be locked on trying to bump out the remainder.

On paper, the Rangers should clobber these teams no matter who they meet in the first round as they have the better offence, defence and goaltending that should carry them through. It's going to come down to game 82 to find out which teams will be facing off against others as the Eastern Conference remains a hot bed of small rivalries and playoff races.

The Rangers have a chance to put a dent in the Islanders playoff hopes as they face off against one another on Tuesday April 9th. Game time will be 7:00 PM eastern.