NHL Scores: Rangers earn crucial victory in Buffalo

The Rangers and Stars had two very different outcomes in two very important games.

Apr 20, 2013, 1:00 PM UTC

USA TODAY Sports

Two games stood out in what was an otherwise lackluster schedule on Friday. Two games that would have big consequences for two teams fighting for the two eighth seeds in the NHL (sensing a theme here?)

The night ended with two very different outcomes. The New York Rangers absolutely steamrolled the hopeless Buffalo Sabres in their own barn, making Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth look about as effective as a wet Kleenex in net. In the process, New York separated itself from Winnipeg by two points in the eighth seed. Also, by eliminating two teams (I'm sorry, I'm really not even trying at this point), the Rangers made the playoff hunt a three-team race.

In the West, the Dallas Stars dropped another second game of a back-to-back with a snoozer of a defeat in St. Louis. Columbus and Detroit now have an edge over the young Stars, who just made the path in front of them that much more difficult.

As for the rest of the night’s action, read on!

All The NHL Scores

Get caught up on Tuesday's NHL scores with recaps from our network of SB Nation team blogs. Here's a quick glance at the full day of action:

Rangers 8, Sabres 4

Blues 2, Stars 1

Blackhawks 5, Predators 4 (OT)

Oilers 4, Avalanche 1

Flames 3, Ducks 1

Five Answers

Prior to Wednesday's games, we presented five burning questions regarding the day's action. Here are your cool, soothing answers.

1. Will the Buffalo Sabres keep their playoff hopes alive against the New York Rangers?

~~Hahahahahahahah no~~

The Buffalo Sabres lost, 8-4, to the New York Rangers in a tough game for their netminders. The loss eliminated both Buffalo and Philadelphia from the playoffs.

2. Will the Chicago Blackhawks extend their six-game winning streak?

They had to work for it, but Marian Hossa's overtime goal made it seven consecutive wins for the almighty Blackhawks. The Western Conference playoffs are just a formality at this point, right?

3. Will the Edmonton Oilers end their six-game losing streak?

Of course. They played Colorado. Next question.

4. Will the Dallas Stars take over the eighth seed in the Western Conference?

The Stars had to go 3-1-1 to make the playoffs before Friday. They used up that one loss against the Blues and lost possession of the eighth seed to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now Dallas will probably have to win out if they want to reach the postseason for the first time in four years.

5. Will the Anaheim Ducks sweep their season series with the Calgary Flames?

Not only did they lose to one of the worst teams in the NHL, but the Ducks have now lost their last four games. Not exactly the way you want to enter the playoffs, especially with the way some of the teams battling for the seventh seed have been playing.

Impact Moment

What moment from Tuesday night's games will be making headlines in the coming days?

Was this the end of an era for Miikka Kiprusoff and the Flames?