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Around the rink - February 27; Lightning-Rangers highlight a busy Sunday

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1:00 p.m.

Tampa Bay @ NY Rangers

It’s the first game of the day and perhaps the most intriguing. Bryan McCabe will make his Rangers debut after being traded by the Panthers yesterday. The Rangers hold a three point cushion over Carolina for seventh place in East and trail Montreal by three for sixth. Tampa Bay has a three point lead on Washington for the Southeast Division lead and lead Boston by two points for second. It’s all playoff spot jockeying for now but the Rangers have won two in row including a humiliating 6-0 win over Washington on Friday night. Tampa Bay has won two in a row of their own and a win would help keep the heat off from the Caps.

3:00 p.m.

Columbus @ Nashville

Teams going in opposite directions here as Columbus has won five of their last six, including three in a row, while Nashville has lost four straight. The Blue Jackets are just two points behind Nashville in the standings now and while that’s great, both teams as of now are out of the playoffs. Nashville needs goals in the worst way as they’ve scored just four goals over their last four games and have been shutout twice. Columbus has been getting stellar play out of both Steve Mason and Rick Nash and if they want to hang in there in the playoff race, taking care of Nashville will go a long way towards that.

5:00 p.m.

Toronto @ Atlanta

This is a huge game for both teams as the Leafs look to get past their wild 6-5 shootout loss to Pittsburgh last night. Atlanta’s second half of the season has been beyond miserable and oddly enough, their season took a turn for the worse since beating the Leafs back on December 20th. Since then, Atlanta has gone 6-17-4 going from a likely playoff team to one that’s now six points behind Carolina for eighth with Buffalo and Toronto in front of them in that race. The Leafs can get to within three points of Carolina with a win. Atlanta can keep their pulse alive for the playoffs with a win.

New Jersey @ Florida

The Devils are coming off a tough loss to Tampa Bay and playing the Panthers today could prove to be the last one in a Florida uniform for any number of players. The Devils can expect either a team that will be demoralized and get run over or one looking to get one last rally in before tomorrow’s trade deadline. If it’s the latter, the effect it has on the Devils slim shot at the playoffs will be profound as a Devils loss could make them finally decide to pack it in and trade some players away themselves.

7:00 p.m.

Phoenix @ Chicago

Speaking of a team in need of a win, the Chicago Blackhawks everyone. The Hawks are just two points behind Minnesota and Dallas who are tied for sixth in the West. With how tight things are there, every game is important and wins in regulation come at a premium. Phoenix, meanwhile, sits in fourth with 75 points and three points behind San Jose for the lead in the Pacific Division. After dropping two in a row to Columbus and Tampa Bay, the Coyotes could stand to get better goaltending and defense after giving up eight to Tampa and five to Columbus.

8:00 p.m.

St. Louis @ Calgary

Welcome to the bigs Ben Bishop. The Blues goalie is coming off his first career NHL shutout in a 5-0 win over Edmonton on Friday. Playing the eighth place in the West Flames should provide a bit more of a challenge, however. The Flames are looking to get off the schneid after two losses in a row to Boston and San Jose, a pair of red hot teams in their own right. St. Louis is barely hanging on in the playoff race and a loss to the Flames would just about put a bullet in their hopes the rest of the way.

Boston @ Edmonton

Boston looks to stay perfect on their six game road trip. They’re 4-0-0 after beating Vancouver last night and they’re looking impressive while doing it. Tonight’s game will show off the top two picks from the 2010 NHL draft in Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin. Hall’s had the better statistical season, but clearly Seguin is seeing more team success as the Oilers have the worst record in the NHL while the Bruins lead the Northeast Division. On the upside for the Oilers, they’re probably not going to face Tim Thomas in goal. Tuukka Rask, of course, isn’t much of a relief himself.

Colorado @ Anaheim

While the Avalanche’s playoff hopes are pretty much null and void, unless the Ducks can pull out of their tailspin they’ll be joining them. Anaheim has lost their last five games in a row and have gone from being locked in on making the playoffs to being alone in 11th place in the West, three points behind Calgary. With Dan Ellis in goal for the Ducks, it’s a great opportunity for him to prove himself. He played great the other night against Minnesota only to get burned in overtime. The only thing we know for sure with the Ducks is that as long as they keep losing with Jonas Hiller out of action, the stronger Hiller’s case for Vezina consideration is made.