Game Thread 2/13: Rangers at Blue Jackets
Will it be five in a row tonight for the Blueshirts?
Tonight the New York Rangers are hoping to keep their winning streak alive against a team that is ahead of them in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Columbus is 5-4-1 in their last ten games and has a record of 19-7-1 at home ice this year. The last two times these teams met the scores were NYR 5-CBJ 4 and CBJ 6-NYR 4. I think it is safe to expect another high-scoring affair tonight in Ohio.
Tonight's game is the first of a five game home stand for the Blue Jackets. The home stand presents an opportunity for Columbus to pull away from the Penguins and Rangers in the Metropolitan Division standings. Which is something that Columbus needs to do after some mediocre play in January and the first chapter of February.
For some more perspective on the opposition check out The Cannon.
Columbus' lines from their last game (2/11):
Saad-Wennberg-Foligno
Jenner-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Calvert-Karlsson-Anderson
Hartnell-Sedlak-Gagner
Werenski-Jones
Johnson-Savard
Murray-Nutivaara
Heading into tonight's contest the Rangers have scored four goals in four straight games (two of which were empty-netters). During this stretch they have allowed nine goals or 2.25 GA/G. Henrik Lundqvist just might be getting his game back on track, like he always does, at the right time of year.
If the Rangers win tonight they will be level with the Blue Jackets in points, but Columbus will still have one game in hand. The two teams will meet again on February 26th at the Garden at 5:00 pm.
Enjoy the game. LGR.