The Blue Jackets are underway in a key stretch that could go a long way in deciding whether their fans are doing “playoff math” this spring.

Vincent Trocheck scored the only goal of the shootout, Igor Shesterkin stopped 27 shots and New York Rangers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0.

NEW YORK -- Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves and stopped all three shooters in the shootout to lift the New York Rangers to a 1-0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. "We played awesome," Shesterkin said about the Rangers defensive effort.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have shot into the stratosphere from being projected as one of the worst teams in the league to a legitimate playoff threat. Columbus rides a five-game win streak heading into Thursday's puck drop against the San Jose Sharks.

James van Riemsdyk scored twice and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday night to extend their win streak to six games — their longest since January 2020. Kent Johnson had a goal and an assist and Adam Fantilli scored a goal to stretch his point streak to eight games.

Last night, the New York Rangers bested the Columbus Blue Jackets in a defensive battle that reached a shootout after a scoreless game. The shootout went three rounds, with Vincent Trocheck scoring the only goal.

The four-game, six-night venture begins tonight in Manhattan, as the Blue Jackets take on the New York Rangers before heading to take on the Islanders on Monday. From there, the wheels are up to Toronto for a Wednesday meeting before the trip ends a night later with a third division game Thursday in Carolina.

Waddell continues to work on the Blue Jackets' mountain of pending free agents, re-signing Jake Christiansen with two-year extension.

The wait is over for those wondering what the Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings will wear while playing outdoors March 1 at Ohio Stadium.

James van Riemsdyk scored twice, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-1 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.