Game #46 Preview: Jackets and Rangers clash for the first time this season

Saturday, January 18, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Madison Square Garden – New York, New York
TV: FDSNOH – Radio: 97.1 FM

Columbus Blue Jackets (22-17-6, 50 points, 4th Metropolitan, 7th East)

at

New York Rangers (21-20-3, 45 points, 7th Metropolitan, 14th East)

This is the first of four meetings between the Blue Jackets and Rangers this season. With the Rangers only five points behind the Jackets in the wild card race, winning this series could go a long way toward securing a playoff spot.

Eight out of the next nine games are on the road. The Rangers are average at home, so tonight is an excellent opportunity to start the road stretch on the right foot. These next nine games could prove to be the most important of the season. It could be the difference between defending a wild card spot and chasing one down the stretch.

Player to Watch

Damon Severson

After being scratched in two straight games, Severson has been the best defenseman not named Zach Werenski. In his last four games, he has a team-leading FF% of 61 and xGF% of 66 at 5v5, not to mention a GF% of 100.

Consistency has been Severson’s problem in his time as a Blue Jacket. Here’s to hoping Evason is starting to get through to him and we are starting to see him turn the corner. This team will be a lot better off in the long run if he can return to being a reliable top-four defenseman.

Jackets Notes

Justin Danforth has started practicing with the team. His return could help bolster the bottom-six, which has struggled to contribute since the loss of Monahan caused a shakeup in the lines.

Yegor Chinakhov had been skating before he disappeared a week or so ago. According to Brian Hedger, Chinny is dealing with a reoccurring lower back issue. That’s not a great sign, as Chinakhov had taken a step forward this season. The secondary scoring he provides in the middle-six makes this team better. Hopefully, he won’t need surgery and will be available after the February break.

The Other Bench

The Rangers have rebounded since falling into the abyss between the end of November and the end of the year. In that timeframe, they went 4-15-0 in 19 games. Since the calendar rolled over, they’ve won 5 of 8.

Don’t be fooled by their record and the standings. This is a team you can’t sleep on. Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox are still two of the most dangerous players in the entire league. Their depth, however, is not what it used to be. In addition, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad have fallen off from their career averages.

Season Series

01/18/2025 CBJ @ NYR
02/08/2025 NYR @ CBJ
03/09/2025 CBJ @ NYR
03/15/2025 NYR @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

New York Rangers