The Rangers' Playoff Chances Will Take A Dramatic Shift This Weekend

THIS IS IT!

And I don't mean maybe either.

Starting tonight when they host Columbus, the Rangers will have an opportunity to hit the jackpot; or hit the Grand Slam, if you will.

Yes, they CAN beat the Blue Jackets and then go to Montreal tomorrow evening and maul the Canadiens. Nor will it take a miracle.

After that it's Ottawa and Philly – both at The Garden – and if ever there was a springboard to success, it's all there for Laviolette, Inc.

In other words, take it; grab it by the pucks and fire them in.

"The Rangers of October would have wiped out all four of those teams," says The Old Scout. "There's no doubt about that. Right now the club is coming on strong and I can see a repeat."

If there is to be a four-game – grand slam – sweep it has to start this evening with Igor Shesterkin in goal – and at his very best; which means not what we've seen lately.

"Keep an eye on Igor," says Pal George Grimm, author of Guardians Of The Goal. "Is he giving up rebounds or smothering the puck?

"If he's giving up a rebound and it's not cleared, he's probably out of position for the second or third shot. But if he smothers the rebound and stops play, he's much better off."

Super birddog Jess Rubenstein advises hard looks at Igor's footwork, "since that was an issue on Utah's first period goals the other night.

Beating Columbus would be a breeze if you had read the pre-season polls. Brian Hedger, writing in The Hockey News Yearbook, predicted "a fifth straight year without a playoff berth" for the Jackets.

That was before the twin Gaudreau tragedies. Without Johnny on left wing, the Blue Jackets – even to optimists – appeared to be a non-playoff team.

Not anymore.

Under coach Dean Evason, the BJ's are 22-17-6 over 45 games. By contrast the Rangers are only one over the .500 mark at 21-20-3 for 44 points, six behind the Jackets.

The BJ's leading scorer is defenseman Zach Werenski (15-36-51) who boasts a plus-11 mark. Runner-up – and a big surprise – is Russian-born Kirill Marchenko (18-31-49) at plus-28.

Veteran Elvis Merzlikins likely will start in goal for the Visitors.

"On any given night," The Old Scout concludes, "Shesterkin has a big edge on their goalie. The Rangers hope he can revert to his Vezina form. Or, put it this way he had BETTER find that form!"

Tonight's the night! (Or, at least it had better be if the Grand Slam is to work!)