Match-up - Columbus Blue Jackets (26-28-3) @ New York Rangers (35-16-6) Road/Home records - 14-14-1 -------------- 17-7-5 TV - MSG, FS-O Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Last 10 - Blue Jackets: 5-5-0 ------------ Rangers: 7-1-2 Projected starting goalies - Curtis McElhinney vs Cam Talbat
Projected lines for the Rangers via DailyFaceoff.com:
Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Mats Zuccarello Chris Kreider - Derek Stepan - Martin St. Louis Carl Hagelin - Kevin Hayes - J.T. Miller Tanner Glass - Dominic Moore - Lee Stempniak
Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi Marc Staal - Kevin Klein Dan Boyle - John Moore
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Scott Hartnell - Ryan Johansen - Alex Wennberg Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson Marko Dano - Artem Anisimov - Nick Foligno Corey Tropp - Mark Letestu - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski Fedor Tyutin - Cody Goloubef
Injured: Boone Jenner, Jeremy Morin, Nathan Horton, Ryan Murray, Sergei Bobrovsky.
What to watch:
1) The Rangers have been playing exceptional hockey over the last couple months, and look to be legitimate contenders once again. The only real weakness in their team right now is that Henrik Lundqvist isn't between the pipes. Columbus should be throwing pucks to the net every chance they get.
2) Marko Dano has played 12:20 or less in all three games since he's been recalled. Given where the Jackets are at it might make sense to give him a couple more shifts per game. He has six shots and an assist in the three games he's played so I'm sure he could handle it.
3) The Rangers were rumored to have interest in Mike Santorelli. Obviously nothing came to fruition there, but perhaps they'd have interest in Mark Letestu, who is apparently available. Whether they're interested or not, teams will be watching, and a good performance from him certainly wouldn't hurt his value.
4) Nick Foligno's consistency this season has been remarkable. I've been waiting for him to slow down all year, and he keeps piling up the points. He was the lone scorer against Montreal and has eight points in his last seven games.
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