Rangers Set up Weekend Race for 8th

The New York Rangers stay alive in the East and make the race even more interesting. The actual game though wasn't worthy of Wednesday's GON, so we're going to go to the desert, where the Predators were facing the Coyotes in a potential first-round matchup:

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Phoenix clinches the number 4 spot in the Western Conference with their win over Nashville in front of over 17,000 at Jobing.com Arena tonight.

Shea Weber ripped a slapshot past Ilya Bryzgalov 12 seconds into the game to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. Just under 2 minutes later, Lauri Korpikoski would tie it at 1 for Phoenix.

The only goal of the 2nd period came off the stick of Wojtek Wolski to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd.

The Predators would tie it in this back-and-forth game 5:53 into the 3rd on a power-play goal from Steve Sullivan. But almost 5 minutes later, Taylor Pyatt gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead and they wouldn't look back.

Shane Doan made it 4-2 and Petteri Nokelainen added an empty-net goal with 19 seconds to go to end it 5-2.

Pekka Rinne stopped for 25 shots for Nashville and Bryzgalov made 23 saves for Phoenix.

The Coyotes will go into the playoffs 4th in the Western Conference with home-ice advantage in Round 1. They have 104 points and 2 games remaining.

The Predators were 5th in the West before this loss, as they move down to 6th tied with Detroit for 5th with 98 points but they have played 1 more game than the Red Wings. Nashville has 1 game left and the Red Wings have 2 to go.

Los Angeles is a point behind both Detroit and Nashville with 3 games still remaining.

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Maple Leafs 1 Rangers 5

New York stays in the playoff hunt in the East with this huge bounce-back game. They now have 84 points, a point back of Boston for 8th and 2 behind Philadelphia for 7th, with 2 games to go. The Flyers also have 2 games left, and wouldn't you know it's a home-and-home versus the Rangers starting Friday. Fasten your seat belts.

Blue Jackets 3 Red Wings 4

Detroit has moved up to 5th in the West with 98 points, tied with the Predators but they hold a game-in-hand on Nashville. Detroit has 2 games left. Columbus is 14th in the West with 78 points.

Blues 5 Blackhawks 6

A pretty unbelievable game at the United Center tonight. St Louis jumped out to a 1-0 lead before allowing 6-straight goals to Chicago. Starting late in the 2nd, the Blues began attempting the comeback. It almost was complete, but the Blackhawks would barely hold off the Blues, 6-5. Chicago takes over top spot in the West with 109 points, tied with with San Jose, but they have 2 more wins than the Sharks. Both Chicago and San Jose have 2 games left. St Louis is 10th in the West with 87 points.

Avalanche 4 Oilers 5 (OT)

Edmonton is on its way to a last-place season, but they have been playing a little better as of late. They are now 8-3 in their last 11 home games, but remain last in the league with 60 points. Colorado, the newest and last member of the playoffs in the West, move to 94 points, 3 back of L.A. for 7th but they have 2 games left while the Kings have 3 to go.

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Thursday's Schedule:

Sabres @ Bruins, 7:00, Versus

Canadiens @ Hurricanes, 7:30 (Versus in BUF and BOS)

Islanders @ Penguins, 7:30, NHL Network

Senators @ Lightning, 7:30

Devils @ Panthers, 7:30

Ducks @ Stars, 8:30, KDOC

Wild @ Flames, 9:30

Coyotes @ Kings, 10:30, FS West

Canucks @ Sharks, 10:30