Columbus @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 13, 2019 ) NY Rangers 5, Columbus 7

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the final two games of the regular season knowing that they are fully in control of their hopes of reaching the postseason for a third consecutive year. The Blue Jackets need to earn two points in their last two road games -- at the New York Rangers on Friday night or at Ottawa on Saturday -- to clinch the second wild card.

“Our destiny is completely in our hands now, which is exciting,” Columbus center Matt Duchene said. “We can control everything that’s going on, going forward.” The Blue Jackets had outscored the opposition 24-4 during a five-game winning streak before Boston stalled their momentum with a 6-2 victory in Columbus on Tuesday night. The Rangers have dropped 15 of their last 19 games (4-10-5) and are coming off consecutive losses to a pair of last-place Eastern Conference teams. That included a 4-1 setback to league-worst Ottawa at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday that was termed "an embarrassing effort" by defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVAS, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG-Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (45-31-4): Columbus is looking to provide an added spark to the lineup with the promotion of left wing Alexandre Texier, who will make his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden. The 19-year-old Texier, a second-round pick in 2017, scored five goals and collected two assists in seven games with Cleveland of the American Hockey League after completing his season in Finland's top league. Oliver Bjorkstrand is on a red-hot tear, scoring seven times during a six-game goal streak to double his previous career high with 22 goals.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (31-36-13): Only five goaltenders in history have recorded 450 wins and New York is trying to get Henrik Lundqvist to the milestone, but the 14-year veteran has dropped six consecutive starts to remain stuck on 449 victories. Lundqvist is 11-8-2 with a 2.92 goals-against average versus the Blue Jackets after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to them earlier this season. Center Mika Zibanejad leads the team in goals (30), assists (42) and points (72), but has scored only four times in 21 career games against Columbus.

OVERTIME

1. Blue Jackets F Cam Atkinson needs one more goal to set a franchise single-season record with 42.

2. Rangers F Chris Kreider has one goal in his last 15 games but scored four times in three meetings versus Columbus this season.

3. Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner is one point shy of 200 for his career.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Rangers 3