The New York Rangers famously sent their fans a letter two seasons ago, transparently laying out that the club was going to be going through some tough times in the short term, but that they'd return to being a top contender soon enough. Well, it appears the rebuild has gone quicker than many had hoped. With their 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, New York is just two points out of a wild-card spot, with two games in hand. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are no certainty, but it appears the month of March will be much more exciting for Rangers fans than many had assumed at the start of the season.

Here's where things stand heading into Friday's five-game slate, including Minnesota Wild-Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins-Anaheim Ducks streaming live on ESPN+.

Note: Playoff chances are courtesy of Money Puck, while tragic numbers are per the NHL's Damian Echevarrieta.

Jump to:
Eastern standings | Western standings
Race for No. 1 pick | Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: Atlantic 1
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ NYI
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: Atlantic 2
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. CGY
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Atlantic 3
Games left: 17 (9 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. VAN
Playoff chances: 83.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: Metro 1
Games left: 18 (9 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 1: @ MIN
Playoff chances: 98.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Metro 2
Games left: 20 (9 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ ANA
Playoff chances: 88.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Metro 3
Games left: 19 (10 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. NYR
Playoff chances: 91.1%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. BOS
Playoff chances: 68.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. MIN
Playoff chances: 37.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20 (9 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 68.1%
Tragic number: 39

New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 1: vs. PHI
Playoff chances: 40.9%
Tragic number: 37

Florida Panthers

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. CHI
Playoff chances: 20.9%
Tragic number: 33

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (6 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. CAR
Playoff chances: 2.1%
Tragic number: 24

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (8 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ VGS
Playoff chances: 1.6%
Tragic number: 29

New Jersey Devils

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ LA
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 24

Ottawa Senators

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17 (6 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. DET
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 15

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17 (9 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ OTT
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: Eliminated

Western Conference

St. Louis Blues

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Central 1
Games left: 17 (8 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. DAL
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: Central 2
Games left: 20 (10 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ CAR
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Central 3
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ STL
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Pacific 1
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. BUF
Playoff chances: 98.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Pacific 2
Games left: 19 (10 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ TOR
Playoff chances: 76.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: Pacific 3
Games left: 18 (11 home, 7 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. WPG
Playoff chances: 77.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 17 (11 home, 6 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ TB
Playoff chances: 73.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 56.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ EDM
Playoff chances: 27.7%
Tragic number: 33

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. BUF
Playoff chances: 26.7%
Tragic number: 31

Minnesota Wild

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (8 home, 11 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: @ CBJ
Playoff chances: 58.4%
Tragic number: 36

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (11 home, 7 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: @ FLA
Playoff chances: 7.2%
Tragic number: 29

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19 (11 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 28: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 25

San Jose Sharks

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (10 home, 8 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 23

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (12 home, 6 away)
Next game: Feb. 29: vs. NJ
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 17

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select Alexis Lafreniere.

Find out more about Lafreniere here, read up on the rest of the top draft prospects here, and check out all of our 2020 NHL draft coverage.

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 12
Chance of No. 1 pick: 18.5%

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%

Ottawa Senators

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%

San Jose Sharks

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 20
Chance of No. 1 pick: 9.5% (Note: pick belongs to Ottawa)

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 8.5%

New Jersey Devils

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Chance of No. 1 pick: 7.5%

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6.5%

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6%

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 5%

Minnesota Wild

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 27
Chance of No. 1 pick: 3.5%

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Chance of No. 1 pick: 3%

Florida Panthers

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Chance of No. 1 pick: 2.5%

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Chance of No. 1 pick: 2%

New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30
Chance of No. 1 pick: 1.5%

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Chance of No. 1 pick: 1%

Current playoff matchups

(A1) Bruins vs. (WC2) Blue Jackets
(A2) Lightning vs. (A3) Maple Leafs
(M1) Capitals vs. (WC1) Islanders
(M2) Penguins vs. (M3) Flyers
(P1) Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Flames
(P2) Canucks vs. (P3) Oilers
(C1) Blues vs. (WC2) Predators
(C2) Avalanche vs. (C3) Stars