New York Rangers Vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview To One Of The Biggest Games Of The Year

Sports

New York Rangers Vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview To One Of The Biggest Games Of The Year

Friday, March 21, 2014

Source: BlueJackets.NHL.com

Tonight's matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers will likely determine which team will make the playoffs and which team will finish a few points shy, ending their hopes of making a run at the prestigious Stanley Cup. Here is how the Metropolitan Division and Wild Card standings currently appear:

1. Pittsburgh - 95 points - 69 games played

2. Philadelphia - 81 points - 69 games played

3. Columbus - 78 points - 69 games played
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Wild Card 1: Toronto - 80 points - 71 games played 

Wild Card 2: New York - 78 points - 70 games played 

The Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers both have 78 points, but the Rangers have played one more game. If Columbus wins this game tonight, the Rangers will fall 2 points behind with one more game played. That is tough to come back from. On the other hand, if the Rangers win, they will advance to third in the division, and the Blue Jackets will take over the last wild card position. 

Players To Watch Tonight:

Rangers:                                                                                                      Blue Jackets:             Rick Nash                                                                                                    Brandon Dubinsky 

Source: Rangers.NHL.com

Source: BlueJackets.NHL.com

                                                          

Both Rick Nash and Brandon Dubinsky will be playing against their previous teams. Despite Nash's 2 goals last game, he has only 3 points in the eight prior games. He has been getting chances and shots on goal, but has not produced until last game against the Senators. It should be interesting to see if he builds off of his game in Ottawa or goes back to previous habits. 

Dubinsky, who is having a much better season with the Blue Jackets this season, has 4 points in his past 5 games. Dubinsky is one of those players that will go down fighting until the very end, and he will display that hard working mentality tonight. 

Both teams have many divisional match ups after tonight's game, but this is the start of both teams' end of the regular season runs. The Columbus Blue Jackets have a significantly better record playing home games than away games. Meanwhile, the Rangers have a much better record playing away games. This should be a very close and exhilarating matchup until the final buzzer.