Rick Nash

The New York Rangers have a new star forward. The Columbus Blue Jackets have one fewer headache and three more quality players. The Blue Jackets finally met captain Rick Nash's midseason request and dealt him on Monday along with a third-round pick and a minor league defenseman to the Rangers for centers Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov , defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick next year. The deal gives the Rangers a big, sturdy right wing to add to their core of solid young players and also helps them counter moves made by other Eastern Conference powers this off-season.

TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH The New Jersey Devils hope history repeats itself on two fronts. They won the Stanley Cup in 1995, after the NHL's first lockout-shortened, 48-game schedule, and they won the East last season as the No. 6-seeded team. But if Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is healthy and Rick Nash scores the goals the New York Rangers couldn't manufacture last season, the Devils might not even make the playoffs. A look at how the conference shapes up: 1. NEW YORK RANGERS 2011-12 finish: 51-24-7 (109 points)

VS. COLUMBUS Time: 5 p.m. On the air: TV: Channel 56; Radio: 830. Where: Honda Center. Records: Blue Jackets 11-12-3; Ducks 14-10-3. Records vs. Blue Jackets: 1-0-0. Update: Teemu Selanne's last 13 goals have come on the power play, tying the second-longest streak in NHL history. That's good news, as the Ducks' power play ranks ninth in the NHL. It is also bad, as Selanne has only one even-strength goal, meaning the second line hasn't been carrying its weight. The Blue Jackets' Rick Nash had eight goals in the past 10 games before facing the Kings on Saturday night.

The New York Rangers have a new star forward. The Columbus Blue Jackets have one fewer headache and three more quality players. The Blue Jackets finally met captain Rick Nash's midseason request and dealt him on Monday along with a third-round pick and a minor league defenseman to the Rangers for centers Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov , defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick next year. The deal gives the Rangers a big, sturdy right wing to add to their core of solid young players and also helps them counter moves made by other Eastern Conference powers this off-season.

Ducks tonight VS. COLUMBUS When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 10-8-3, Blue Jackets 10-6-0. Record vs. Blue Jackets: 0-1-0. Update: The Ducks are back in their comfort zone with seven of their next eight at home, where they are 7-1-1. They are coming off a winless trip, but it was a sharp contrast from the season-opening trip when they went 0-3 and were outscored, 13-2.

R.J. Umberger scored his second goal of the game on a power play 1:45 into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 5-4 win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday. The Capitals played much of the game without Alexander Ovechkin, who left early in the second period and did not return. Blue Jackets left wing Raffi Torres scored twice in the final 6 1/2 minutes of regulation, including the tying goal with 23 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Rick Nash had a goal and two assists for Columbus (6-5-1)

at Washington 5, Edmonton 4 (SO): Matt Bradley scored the game-winner for Washington in the 12th round of the shootout, after both teams missed in each of the first 11 rounds. After Bradley scored, Washington goalie Olie Kolzig stopped Sheldon Souray in the 12th round to end it. Montreal 3, at Atlanta 2 (SO): Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the second period, then came through again in the shootout. Toronto 3, at Boston 2 (SO): Mats Sundin and Alex Steen scored goals in the tiebreaker, and Toronto ended a six-game road losing streak.

When the Kings acquired forward Fredrik Modin from Columbus last Wednesday for a conditional seventh-round pick in the June draft, they never specified the condition. Here's the scoop: The Blue Jackets will get the pick if the Kings win the Stanley Cup but will get nothing if the Kings don't win Lord Stanley's trophy this season. The Kings probably won't have to surrender that pick. But they will have a shot in the playoffs -- and Modin will have the satisfaction of knowing his goal and assist in a 6-0 rout of his former team Monday at Staples Center helped carry the Kings closer to their first postseason berth since the 2001-02 season.

Amare Stoudemire scored 26 points and Steve Nash had 18 points and 10 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter while the Phoenix reserves completed a 123-101 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night that gave the Suns home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns made 14 of 24 three-pointers, 11 of 17 in the first three quarters. The Suns can finish no worse than No. 4 in the West and would be No. 3 if they win at Utah on Wednesday. Denver, which finished its regular season, would get the No. 4 spot and a first-round home-court edge if Phoenix beats the Jazz.

TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH The New Jersey Devils hope history repeats itself on two fronts. They won the Stanley Cup in 1995, after the NHL's first lockout-shortened, 48-game schedule, and they won the East last season as the No. 6-seeded team. But if Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is healthy and Rick Nash scores the goals the New York Rangers couldn't manufacture last season, the Devils might not even make the playoffs. A look at how the conference shapes up: 1. NEW YORK RANGERS 2011-12 finish: 51-24-7 (109 points)

This could be the most important week of Dean Lombardi's six seasons as general manager of the Kings. If he acquires a high-impact scorer by the trade deadline of noon Pacific time Monday, he can salvage a season that began with high expectations but descended into a grim battle to score goals and make the playoffs. Failure to reach the postseason could cost Lombardi his job and there would be no reason to argue he should stay. The only elite player available and able to deliver the necessary scoring jolt is Columbus left wing Rick Nash , who reportedly listed the Kings among teams he'd be willing to join in a trade.

Ducks tonight VS. COLUMBUS When: 7. Where: Honda Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Records: Ducks 10-8-3, Blue Jackets 10-6-0. Record vs. Blue Jackets: 0-1-0. Update: The Ducks are back in their comfort zone with seven of their next eight at home, where they are 7-1-1. They are coming off a winless trip, but it was a sharp contrast from the season-opening trip when they went 0-3 and were outscored, 13-2.

Amare Stoudemire scored 26 points and Steve Nash had 18 points and 10 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter while the Phoenix reserves completed a 123-101 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night that gave the Suns home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns made 14 of 24 three-pointers, 11 of 17 in the first three quarters. The Suns can finish no worse than No. 4 in the West and would be No. 3 if they win at Utah on Wednesday. Denver, which finished its regular season, would get the No. 4 spot and a first-round home-court edge if Phoenix beats the Jazz.

When the Kings acquired forward Fredrik Modin from Columbus last Wednesday for a conditional seventh-round pick in the June draft, they never specified the condition. Here's the scoop: The Blue Jackets will get the pick if the Kings win the Stanley Cup but will get nothing if the Kings don't win Lord Stanley's trophy this season. The Kings probably won't have to surrender that pick. But they will have a shot in the playoffs -- and Modin will have the satisfaction of knowing his goal and assist in a 6-0 rout of his former team Monday at Staples Center helped carry the Kings closer to their first postseason berth since the 2001-02 season.

R.J. Umberger scored his second goal of the game on a power play 1:45 into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 5-4 win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday. The Capitals played much of the game without Alexander Ovechkin, who left early in the second period and did not return. Blue Jackets left wing Raffi Torres scored twice in the final 6 1/2 minutes of regulation, including the tying goal with 23 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Rick Nash had a goal and two assists for Columbus (6-5-1)

VS. COLUMBUS Time: 5 p.m. On the air: TV: Channel 56; Radio: 830. Where: Honda Center. Records: Blue Jackets 11-12-3; Ducks 14-10-3. Records vs. Blue Jackets: 1-0-0. Update: Teemu Selanne's last 13 goals have come on the power play, tying the second-longest streak in NHL history. That's good news, as the Ducks' power play ranks ninth in the NHL. It is also bad, as Selanne has only one even-strength goal, meaning the second line hasn't been carrying its weight. The Blue Jackets' Rick Nash had eight goals in the past 10 games before facing the Kings on Saturday night.

An outdoor game between the Kings and the Ducks, to be played amid the palm trees and history of Dodger Stadium, is moving closer to reality. Details are still being negotiated, but plans call for the teams to face off in a regular-season game on Jan. 25, 2014, using the portable rink and refrigeration equipment the NHL owns and has deployed at sites such as Chicago's Wrigley Field and Boston's Fenway Park. A formal announcement is tentatively set for April 17 or 18. The NHL Players' Assn.

This could be the most important week of Dean Lombardi's six seasons as general manager of the Kings. If he acquires a high-impact scorer by the trade deadline of noon Pacific time Monday, he can salvage a season that began with high expectations but descended into a grim battle to score goals and make the playoffs. Failure to reach the postseason could cost Lombardi his job and there would be no reason to argue he should stay. The only elite player available and able to deliver the necessary scoring jolt is Columbus left wing Rick Nash , who reportedly listed the Kings among teams he'd be willing to join in a trade.

at Washington 5, Edmonton 4 (SO): Matt Bradley scored the game-winner for Washington in the 12th round of the shootout, after both teams missed in each of the first 11 rounds. After Bradley scored, Washington goalie Olie Kolzig stopped Sheldon Souray in the 12th round to end it. Montreal 3, at Atlanta 2 (SO): Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the second period, then came through again in the shootout. Toronto 3, at Boston 2 (SO): Mats Sundin and Alex Steen scored goals in the tiebreaker, and Toronto ended a six-game road losing streak.