Starting with division winner: Rangers should have it in the bag with 5 games left up 5 points (plus tiebreaker). Canes do have 4 easily winnable games left of their 5, while the Rangers have 3 in-division games and then MTL and Ottawa.
Say Canes get 8 points. Rangers would need 3 or 4. Lets say 2 wins in their last 5.
Thereafter, I see absolutely no easy first round matchups for anyone in the East.
Even teams like Detroit if they sneak in would be a tough play (as we saw the other night). Then you got potential Division rivals: PIT, PHL or Isles round 1? Ooof. We
saw what happened last playoffs vs. a bitter rival.
Maybe I’m not giving the Rangers enough credit but I’m worried.