COLUMBUS, Ohio — No win has been more monumental this season than the one the Rangers picked up Saturday night.
Because with 15 games left in the regular season, the Blueshirts are back in the playoff picture after a dominant 4-0 over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena pushed them directly ahead of Columbus and into the second wild card spot.
It’s been a long and winding road to get back here, with the Rangers briefly stepping above the postseason cutoff line for the first time in a while earlier this month.
They then failed to capitalize on a chance to take the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference in Ottawa last Saturday.
And then again the following night against the Blue Jackets, who dumped seven goals on Rangers backup goalie Jonathan Quick in the two team’s last meeting.
The Rangers finally seized the opportunity in front of them, and it was arguably the most important one.
The work, however, is far from over.
There are still several teams right on the Rangers’ heels that can overtake them if they don’t keep pushing forward. If Montreal beats the Panthers Saturday night, the Canadiens would move one point behind the Rangers to go along with a slightly better points percentage because of their game in hand.
Columbus also still has a game in hand on the Rangers, who only have two multi-game road trips left on the season.
