Rangers and Blue Jackets, East and West, Fight for Playoff Berths

The Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers are in the playoff race, insecure in sixth place in the West and East.

Columbus Blue Jackets are 37-28-6.

The New York Rangers are 37-26-8.

The Blue Jackets race has been described as "about as exclusive and competitive as a Sunday breakfast at Waffle House—people might get in the door, but the question is whether they can find a seat."

The Rangers' race is more like a late Sunday coffee at a drive-through Starbucks. I love the hit of caffeine in a New York minute.

With three weeks left in the regular season, there are basically nine teams still in the hunt for the last four playoff spots in the Western and Eastern Conferences.

Entering their last game against the Chicago Blackhawks, two nights ago, four teams were no more than four points behind the sixth-place Blue Jackets. Entering last night's game between the Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils, three teams were no more than four points behind the sixth place Rangers.

The daily shift in the standings can make a fan's life ecstatic or miserable. This playoff-race stuff is great.

The BlackBerry, Google Alerts, the TSN and NHL.com Web sites, the car radio, all keep you up to date.

Who can remember a race like this? It's the product of the 'new' NHL with salary cap competitiveness and three point shoot-outs.

When lots of teams are getting at least one point, you really lose if you snooze.
The Jackets' 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks was critical for that reason. The Rangers' 4-3 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens was critical for the same reason.

The Blue Jackets had an incredible run, beating Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Chicago, but losing to Detroit on Sunday.

The Rangers had an incredible run winning three in a row, losing, winning, losing, then winning two in a row. They beat Boston, lost to Carolina, beat Nashville, split two games with Philly, and beat Montreal.

The Blue Jackets could have lost their game against Chicago as both teams missed chances. The Rangers had to re-take the lead three times to beat Montreal. Both games ended in shoot-outs.

The Blue Jackets are led by Antoine Vermette and captain Rick Nash. Those two dominate at the boards and all over the ice. The Rangers are led by Sean Avery and captain Chris Drury, dominating the corners and all over the ice.

Goalie Steve Mason keeps the Blue Jackets in the game. Kenrik Lundqvist keeps the Rangers in the game. 

The big difference between these two clubs is their fans.

Columbus games at Nationwide Arena have the feel of neutral ice games. The Blue Jackets faithful don't always show up in force, even for the big games. New York games at Madison Square Garden are noisy affairs with fans demanding wins and celebrating when their team gets another one.