Mika Zibanejad of the Rangers. AP Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information.

The Eastern Conference standings are ridiculous.

Only eight points separate the first-place Carolina Hurricanes and 15th-place Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Pittsburgh Penguins currently hold the last wild-card spot with 35 points, but there are seven teams within three points of the Pens.

The Buffalo Sabres are the only team in the East under .500 entering this weekend.

It’s too early to call any game a must-win for any team, but given how bunched up things are, teams in the East can ill-afford to hand points to their rivals in the playoff race.

The Rangers will look to avoid doing that

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