The New York Rangers return home for the first game of a back-to-back set, a Metro Division clash with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night at MSG (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 880 AM).

A mid-January game against the Columbus Blue Jackets originally didn’t jump off the New York Rangers schedule as anything special. But it’s a downright critical game for each team when the Rangers host the Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

The Jackets have ventured into New York City for their first time this season as they look to win a 7th straight game. This is the first game of a four-game road gauntlet for Columbus. They're in Manhattan to play the Rangers tonight,

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.

While the Columbus Blue Jackets can enjoy the view when they glance at the NHL standings, the New York Rangers find themselves bunched with several teams below the playoff line.