Game #73 Preview: Blue Jackets limp into New York
Here’s what you need to know
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 7:00 P.M. EST
Madison Square Garden - New York, New York
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Blueshirt Banter
Columbus Blue Jackets (23-42-7, 53 points, 8th Metro, 16th East)
at
New York Rangers (43-20-10, 96 points, 3rd Metro, 5th East)
Remember back in October when we beat the Rangers at MSG? That was fun.
Player to Watch
Tyler Motte
The one-time Blue Jacket has 3/3/6 in 15 games since returning to the Rangers from Ottawa at the trade deadline. Pretty impressive production from the bottom six.
Ok, but seriously:
Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane
The two big acquisitions of the trade deadline have been worth it so far. Tarasenko has 5/9/14 in 22 games since coming over from St. Louis and Kane has 4/4/8 in 12 games since finally getting dealt from Chicago, including one on Saturday in a win over Florida.
Jackets Notes
The injuries keep piling up, with Elvis Merzlikins leaving the Montreal game with a lower body injury, and Nick Blankenburg aggravating the injury he suffered in Friday’s game.
Injury Updates for the following #CBJ players after this past weekend's games.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) March 27, 2023
Nick Blankenburg (ankle); week-to-week
Erik Gudbranson (separated shoulder); expected to miss 6 weeks
Elvis Merzlikins (lower body); day-to-day
Mathieu Olivier (lower leg bone bruise); expected to…
Billy Sweezey has been recalled from Cleveland to fill in on defense, and Jon Gillies will back up Michael Hutchinson in goal.
The Other Bench
That win over the Panthers may have put the Cats’ playoff hopes in serious jeopardy...The Rangers are within four points of the Devils, and have a game in hand. Assuming the Hurricanes hold on to first place, the Rangers/Devils race will determine home ice for what should be a highly entertaining crosstown series.
Season Series
10/23/2022 CBJ 5 @ NYR 1
01/16/2023 NYR 3 @ CBJ 1
03/28/2023 CBJ @ NYR
04/08/2023 NYR @ CBJ
Stats
| NY Rangers | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.33 (12) | GPG | 2.71 (29) |
| 2.68 (4) | GAPG | 3.94 (31) |
| 22.4% (9) | PP% | 19.3% (23) |
| 80.9% (12) | PK% | 75.8% (21) |
| 49.9% (19) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 45.4% (29) |
| 50.4% (17) | 5v5 Unblocked shot attempt % | 45.2% (29) |
| 9.1 (10) | 5v5 Shooting % | 7.9 (26) |
| .920 (10) | 5v5 Save % | .902 (28) |
| Mika Zibanejad, 37 | G Leader | Boone Jenner, 25 |
| Artemi Panarin, 58 | A Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 49 |
| Artemi Panarin, 82 | P Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 67 |
| Jacob Trouba, 57 | PIM Leader | Mathieu Olivier, 81 |
| 21-12-4 | Home / Road | 9-22-5 |
| 8-1-1 | Last 10 | 3-6-1 |
Projected Lineups
| Johnny Gaudreau | Boone Jenner | Kirill Marchenko |
| Liam Foudy | Jack Roslovic | Kent Johnson |
| Eric Robinson | Sean Kuraly | Lane Pederson |
| Trey Fix-Wolansky | Hunter McKown | Emil Bemstrom |
| Jake Christiansen | Adam Boqvist |
| Tim Berni | Andrew Peeke |
| Gavin Bayreuther | Billy Sweezey |
| Michael Hutchinson |
| Jon Gillies |
| Artemi Panarin | Mika Zibanejad | Vladimir Tarasenko |
| Chris Kreider | Vincent Trocheck | Patrick Kane |
| Alexis Lafreniere | Filip Chytil | Kaapo Kakko |
| Jimmy Vesey | Barclay Goodrow | Tyler Motte |
| K'Andre Miller | Jacob Trouba |
| Niko Mikkola | Adam Fox |
| Ben Harpur | Braden Schneider |
| Igor Shesterkin |
| Jaroslav Halak |