The New York Rangers playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. They're only a point out, but with two games more played than the Montreal Canadiens, who currently reside in that final wild-card spot, the Rangers face an uphill battle to get to the party. They're also being chased down by the New York Islanders, who are just one point behind, having played two games fewer. That's a concern, so when they play tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ranger fans will need their city rivals to lose.
Columbus is in the fight for this final wild card, too, but they're four points behind the Canadiens, meaning there is some wiggle room for the Rangers ahead of their division rival. They are also ice cold, going 2-7-1 in their last 10. That is how you fall out of a playoff race fast, folks. They're looking to try and get back to winning ways.
It'll be hard for those Jackets, though. UBS Arena has never been a friendly arena for them. They're 0-5-1 in that building, and the Rangers need the Jackets to grab a regulation win. All logic suggests that this is unlikely. A red-hot Islanders team hosting a cold Jackets club that has never won at UBS Arena seems impossible. However, the hockey gods are cruel beings and find joy in suffering, so this is likely a better chance for the Jackets to win than if they were the hot team.
The Rangers need help. 6 awful weeks where the team went 4-15 has seen them lose control of their destiny for the playoffs. They'll need a lot of help from other teams to get in. Tonight, it starts with the Columbus Blue Jackets beating the New York Islanders, as it would help the Rangers keep the chasing wolves at bay for the time being.
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