As far as Rangers fans are concerned, the consolation for the four cups won by the Isles is that the Broadway Blues are “only” 13 years removed from the greatest trophy in North American sports. But whether it’s been 13 or 24 years since a team’s last championship, neither franchise is now quite what those winning squads were. In this home-and-home series, the Rangers have a chance to hurt the Islanders in the standings, and to claw back into playoff contention. The motivators for both of these clubs should be a playoff birth and bragging rights over which is the best of the two NYC-area teams (excluding the Devils).

At the moment, neither team is dazzling anyone with their game, but the Islanders are atop the Rangers in the standings. Last year’s Edmonton Oilers are proof that the lowest-seeded team has a shot at the Stanley Cup, and the Red Wings (among others) have proven a few times that the first place seed can be easily knocked out.

Once April comes and the post-season begins, the 16 clubs that made it get to start anew. Whether it will be the Islanders or the Rangers who get that final Wales Conference berth may very well depend on these two games.