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Match-up - New York Rangers (24-13-4) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (18-20-3)
Road/Home records - 11-7-1 -------------- 9-11-2
TV - MSG, FS-O
Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET
Season series - 1-0 Blue Jackets
Last 10 - Rangers: 7-3-0 ------------ Blue Jackets: 5-5-0
Projected starting goalies - Henrik Lundqvist vs Sergei Bobrovsky
Projected lines for the Rangers via DailyFaceoff.com:
Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider - J.T. Miller - Martin St. Louis
Carl Hagelin - Dominic Moore - Lee Stempniak
Tanner Glass - Kevin Hayes - Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi
Marc Staal - Dan Boyle
Kevin Klein - John Moore
Injured: Derek Stepan.
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Scott Hartnell - Ryan Johansen - Nick Foligno
Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson
Sean Collins - Alex Wennberg - Jeremy Morin
Corey Tropp - Mark Letestu - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard
Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski
Cody Goloubef - Fedor Tyutin
Injured: Artem Anisimov, Boone Jenner, Brian Gibbons, Nathan Horton, Jack Skille, Ryan Murray.
What to watch:
1) I'll be watching Jeremy Morin's ice time closely. Over the last four games he's averaging less than 10 minutes per game despite showing the ability to create scoring chances and drive possession on a consistent basis. In 12 games since he was acquired by the Jackets he is generating almost 52% of the shot attempts at 5 vs 5 play, which is over 8% higher than the Jackets when he's not on the ice. Morin needs to play more.
2) Ryan Johansen enters tonight's contest on an 11-game point streak; his 2nd point streak of 10+ games this season. The Jackets probably aren't making the playoffs, but it'll be fun to watch him try to carry the team on his back.
3) Sergei Bobrovsky went toe-to-toe with Carey Price the other night but eventually lost the duel due to his team's inability to stay out of the box. I look forward to seeing how he stacks up against another one of the league's best in Henrik Lundqvist.
4) The Rangers have gotten back to their speed game of late, and it has resulted in a lot of wins. They're playing some great hockey, and they'll surely be looking to use their speed to their advantage tonight. They could cause the Blue Jackets a lot of problems, especially if they don't keep their feet moving and take some penalties as a result.
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