The games that matter, 2/15/11

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a nip-and-tuck stretch run. While the Jackets most directly can influence their destiny by winning, they likely will need help from other teams to get to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's that tight in the Western Conference this year.

So I'm going to try a new, (hopefully) daily post called "The games that matter". These will be games, identified by Sports Club Stats, that will impact the Columbus Blue Jackets' playoff odds. No huge detail on these posts - check out the link if you want to dig deeper - just the games.

With no further ado, here are tonight's games that matter (and the teams you want to hold your nose and root for):

• Oilers over Stars (gulp)
• Canucks over Wild
• Predators over Sharks

In pretty much all circumstances, we do not want any overtime games.  Three-point games by our conference rivals only serve to reinforce the current seeding and thus keep the Jackets on the outside looking in.  We need one team to get two points, and the other to go home with nothing.  That's the way to shake up the standings.

It's going to be that type of season...we'll be scoreboard watching down to the last week!  Enjoy the ride, everyone...