With 12 games remaining, it all comes down this for the Rangers. Take care of business and they’ll be part of the 16-team postseason tournament this Spring. Based on tonight’s results, a word of advice. Don’t rely on anyone else.

I’ve never been a fan of cheering for bitter rivals to help our team out. Hell no. I didn’t root for the Pens who lost on a Daniel Alfredsson buzzer beater in overtime. And no. I don’t care that the Blue Jackets, Flyers and Lightning all won while the Caps got a point. That means the Rangers got no help. That’s just the way I want it. If they’re really a good team, then they’ll prove it.

Over the next three weeks, they have a dozen games left to earn their way into the playoffs. That includes a pressure packed back-to-back weekend at Columbus and New Jersey. Eight total points separate second from sixth in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers are second with 81 while the Jackets moved ahead of the Rangers due to one fewer game played with each team tied at 78. Currently, they’re clinging onto the second wild card by a point over the Red Wings and Caps. Our team has a distinct advantage owning the first tiebreaker with 33 regulation/overtime wins. That could play a huge role in who makes it. Detroit has only 27 ROW and Washington just 25. With an overtime win, the Devils are five out with 12 left. They’re at 30.

How important is it to finish in the top three of your division? It could be the difference between feeling safe or hanging by the cliff giving every fan anxiety attacks. Just call it the NHL version of Survivor. It’s really simple. Win and you give yourself a better chance. Especially if it’s in regulation or OT. However, at this time of year getting points remains crucial. Unlike most of the competition, the Rangers haven’t been able to do that. Their four overtime/shootout defeats are the least in the league. That means they don’t comeback too often when trailing late. While it puts more of an emphasis on the all important ROW, at some point they might need to tie one up and gain an extra point.

Starting tonight, they play three games over the next four days and four in six including home dates against Phoenix and Philadelphia. Considering that they’ve been a better road team boasting a 21-13-0 mark with their 21 road wins ranking first in the East, they’ll be putting that success to test with seven of the last 12 away from MSG. That includes an absurd four-game Northwestern swing with stops in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Colorado. Logical scheduling. They will return to the Garden for Ottawa, Carolina and Buffalo. The final three home games which are all winnable. Then they conclude in Montreal.

At this point, they’re all must win. There are no easy opponents. Do I have to remind everyone about that brutal loss at Carolina? In order to be successful, the Rangers’ best players must come up big. From Henrik Lundqvist to Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Carl Hagelin, Chris Kreider and Benoit Pouliot, they all must perform. As Alain Vigneault has similar discovered about this roster to former coach John Tortorella, everyone must contribute.

Even with the St. Louis addition, they’re a team. That’s where key role guys Brian Boyle, Daniel Carcillo and Dominic Moore come in along with Derek Dorsett. The same goes for Anton Stralman, John Moore and Kevin Klein. Are they ready? 1-2-3-4 Pressure!