Rangers still in thick of playoff race even as play doesn’t seem worthy of it

The Rangers’ uninspiring 1-1-1 showing in the Golden State this past week very well could’ve been the nail in the coffin on a season that is begging to be put out of its misery.

That was if any of the surrounding teams vying for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot were doing any better.

Instead, the Blueshirts woke up Sunday morning in the last playoff spot before the Canadiens snatched it back with a win over the Panthers later in the day.

Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette instructs his team as left wings Artemi Panarin (10), Chris Kreider (20) and Brennan Othmann (78) look on against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose.

It is yet to be seen if the Rangers can salvage this season, sitting at 77 points with eight games remaining.

Their inability to take control of this five-team potato sack race, however, is a damning reflection on a club that regarded itself as a Stanley Cup contender at the start.

“The first period in LA wasn’t perfect, but the second and third, guys were pushing and [the Kings] scored a couple power-play goals [for a 3-1 win],” head coach Peter Laviolette said upon reflection of the three-game swing. “Somebody asked if [Friday night’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Ducks], did you feel the momentum shifting in the game, and it wasn’t really about that. I think [Anaheim] had five or six shots through the third period and overtime. We needed to be better in those situations on those specific plays, but the game prior to that we were doing the right things.

“[Saturday night’s 6-1 win over the Sharks] I thought there was a directness to our game with regard to just moving it north, putting pucks at the net, especially early. We were able to find that ice. I thought we were playing fast and doing the right things and then we were pretty consistent with it for the entire game.”

The Canadiens and Blue Jackets have been the Rangers’ biggest competition, with both teams aiming to end multi-season playoff droughts.

Despite losing their past five games before beating the Panthers 4-2 Sunday afternoon, Montreal still had a chance to rip the second wild-card spot away from the Rangers because of their two games in hand.

Over the 12 games prior, the Canadiens went a middling 4-4-4.

A 3-2 loss to the Senators on Saturday night gave the Blue Jackets an ugly 3-8-1 record over the same span, which included a six-game losing skid that kept them stagnant. And while the Red Wings and Islanders started Sunday three points behind the Rangers with one or two games in hand, respectively, neither team has done themselves any favors lately.

Rangers center Jonny Brodzinski (22) reacts after a Rangers goal is disallowed against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose.

The Islanders have lost five straight and eight of their past 11. Detroit, on the other hand, has posted an abysmal 4-11 record in their past 15 games.

This all while the Rangers went 4-6-3 against seven playoff-bound teams and six on the outside looking in. Of the four games that required overtime in that span, the Blueshirts lost three of them to fall to 3-0-7 in extra periods this season.

Rangers center Jonny Brodzinski (22) celebrates with center Mika Zibanejad (93) and left wing Chris Kreider (20) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose.

While the Senators have given themselves a nice cushion in the top slot, the battle for the final postseason spot in the East is still wide-open for the taking.

It is quite literally up for grabs.

The Rangers have just eight more opportunities to ensure they reach out and take it.