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Tonight on NBCSN: Doubleheader fun with Wings-Jackets and Sharks-Ducks

Detroit Red Wings v Columbus Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 28: Ryan Johansen #19 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates the puck up ice against Johan Franzen #93 of the Detroit Red Wings during their game at Nationwide Arena on February 28, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)

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It’s another doubleheader night on NBCSN and you could view tonight as a spoiler special as there are two teams that will be stuck on the outside of the playoff picture looking to mess things up for a pair of teams.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET)

These two just met on Monday in Detroit and things... Didn’t go very well for the Jackets as Detroit spanked them 7-2 putting four goals up in the first period. Jackets goalie Steve Mason, who thought it he figured out his bad play was thanks to not wearing the right pads, has shown lately that it’s not the pads’ fault he’s giving up oodles of goals. The Jackets will hope that their cannon blasts at home will be able to throw the Wings off their game.

The big news for Detroit is that they’re getting healthy, which means they’re getting more frightening to deal with. We’ve seen Jakub Kindl and Nicklas Lidstrom return and Johan Franzen appears ready to come back tonight. With Jonathan Ericsson also potentially back tonight and Jimmy Howard returning on Friday, the Wings are officially geared up for the postseason.

While coach Mike Babcock is resigned to the fact they’re likely to open the playoffs against Nashville, continuing to win would mean they have home ice advantage for that series. Columbus wouldn’t mind helping make sure Detroit stays on the road in the postseason.

Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks (10:00 p.m. ET)

San Jose Sharks v Anaheim Ducks

ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 04: Jason Blake #33 of the the Anaheim Ducks is pursued by Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks for the puck in the first period at Honda Center on January 4, 2012 in Anaheim, California. The Sharks defeated the Ducks 3-1. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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The Sharks are today’s leader in the Pacific Division and that means they’re always either a win from seizing control of the situation or a loss away from giving someone else the lead and a lock on a playoff spot. With 88 points the Sharks are one point ahead of the Stars and Coyotes and two up on the Kings. It’s an uncomfortable place to be in, but for the Sharks to really enjoy the moment as Joe Thornton says they should, they’ll have to keep winning, something they’ve done three times in a row now.

The Ducks, meanwhile, want nothing more than to spoil things for their California rivals and if we can keep coach Bruce Boudreau from freaking out on the officials again, they might just be able to do that. The Ducks are just playing out the string at this point, but at least they’ve still got a host of superstar talent to threaten the Sharks with. Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan, and Ryan Getzlaf are all still there and capable of putting a monster game together. That crew might just all stick around next season too if Selanne decides to play one more year. Considering they’ve lost six of their last 10 games, you’re never quite sure what you’ll get from Anaheim.