Project Philly Revisited

Since the last post, the Rangers have gone 2-0-1 (cruelly close to a clean 3-0 in Toronto) while the Flyers have gone 1-2-1.

The Flyers have just four games left before the home-and-home finale, and currently sit at 82 points. Let's look at a scenario in which the Flyers beat the Islanders and Leafs while losing to the Red Wings and Canadiens, thereby entering the final weekend with 86 points.

The key for the Rangers is to enter that weekend within three points of the Flyers. If they can do that, a REGULATION sweep of the series would put them one point up in the standings. This is critical, because the Flyers would likely take the first tie-breaker by virtue of more wins.

The Rangers currently sit at 76 points, and have one game in hand on Philly. Of the Blueshirts' five games before facing the Flyers, four of them are against Tampa, Florida, the Isles and the Leafs. Can they defeat these four highly beatable teams? If so, (allowing a loss to Buffalo) the Rangers will enter the home-and-home with 84 points- two points behind Philadelphia and directly within striking distance.

Brian Boucher must falter. When they face the Canadiens, the Habs must play like they mean it. The Wings must play like the title condender they've looked like since the Olympic break.

And the Rangers must take care of business. The must play defensively the way they've only occasionally done this year. They must get their forecheck going every night. Their breakout must be effective, so as to make sure they have the territorial edge, because their D-men cannot win a war a attrition against many teams. -- And Lundqvist must be Lundqvist every minute he's in the net the rest of the way.

This is where we stand. This is the math. It's not over yet.