COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS. NEW YORK RANGERS

TV:  Bally Sports Ohio           Jeff Rimer (play-by-play), Jody Shelley (color analyst), Dave Maetzold (reporter)              
Radio:  105.7 FM                    Bob McElligott (play-by-play), Dylan Tyrer (host)

THE MATCHUP

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2021-22 Record: 7-4-0, 14 pts. (6^th, Metropolitan Division)

Goals:  3.09 Goals-For/2.91 Goals-Against… Shots:  29.5 Shots-For/34.2 Shots-Against

Power Play:  20.0 percent (15^th-T, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  82.9 percent (14^th, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  8.0 PIM (8^th, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  4-0-0 (1-0)

NEW YORK RANGERS

2021-22 Record: 7-3-3, 17 pts. (3^rd, Metropolitan Division)

Goals:  2.54 Goals-For/2.85 Goals-Against… Shots:  25.7 Shots-For/33.8 Shots-Against

Power Play:  20.9 percent (14^th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  81.4 percent (18^th, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  9.2 PIM (18^th-T, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout): 1-3-0 (0-0)

Players to Watch:  Former Blue Jacket LW Artemi Panarin ranks third in the NHL in assists (319) and fifth in points (486) since making his NHL debut in 2015-16… D Adam Fox won the James Norris Memorial Trophy (League’s best defenseman) in 2020-21 and is tied for the NHL lead among blueliners in scoring with 3-10-13 in 13 games in 2021-22… G Igor Shesterkin has posted a 32-18-5 with a 2.55 GAA and .923 SV% in 57 games since making his NHL debut in 2019-20.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Results:  Columbus has gone 19-17-5 in 41 all-time meetings, including 10-11-1 at home… Of Note: The clubs did not meet in 2020-21… CBJ went 1-2-0 vs. the Rangers in 2019-20… The Rangers have won the past two games overall (since Feb. 14, 2020) and at Nationwide Arena (since Dec. 5, 2019)… CBJ have picked up points in nine of the past 13 meetings overall since Feb. 26, 2017 (8-4-1)…The Rangers picked up their first shutout in the series in the club’s most recent meeting on Oct. 29 at NY (Shesterkin, 31 saves in 4-0 win).  Columbus has recorded the first three shutouts in the series.

This Season (CBJ, 0-1-0)

Oct. 29, 2021 – at NYR 4, CBJ 0

Nov. 13, 2021 – at Columbus (7 p.m.)

Jan. 27, 2022 – at Columbus (7 p.m.)

CBJ TEAM NOTES

The Blue Jackets saw their three-game win streak come to an end with a 4-3 loss to the Capitals on Friday… Columbus closes out its first of 16 back-to-back sets of the season on Saturday… CBJ (1-1-0) continue their four-game homestand on Saturday.  The team fell to 5-2-0 at home in 2021-22.  It’s tied for the best start at Nationwide Arena in terms of wins (fifth time) and the second-best start in terms of points (5-1-1, 11 pts in 2007-08)… The Blue Jackets have equaled the franchise’s mark for wins in the first 11 games of a season (fourth time)… Friday’s game vs. Washington kicked off a stretch of three games in four days and 10 games (5H, 5 A) over November’s final 19 days… CBJ have posted a league-high four victories when trailing entering the third period this season (4-2-0), including recorded a win when trailing heading into the final 20 minutes in three-straight games from October 31-November 6…. The Blue Jackets are 4-0-0 in games decided after regulation this season (3-0-0 in OT, 1-0 in SO).  Last season, CBJ went 3-9 in OT and 3-3- in SO… Columbus had the youngest season-opening roster in average age at 25.71.  New Jersey (25.74) was the only other team to have an average age of its roster younger than 26-years-old… CBJ also had the most diverse roster to open the season with 10 countries represented.

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

The Blue Jackets have had 13 different players record goals this season, while 19-of-23 skaters have recorded at least one point… RW Oliver Bjorkstrand has a point in four-straight contests (2-3-5) and leads the club in scoring and multi-point outings with 5-9-14 and four multi-point efforts in 11 games… C Boone Jenner also has points in four consecutive games (2-2-4) and leads the team in goals with 6-2-8 in 10 games.  He scored eight goals in 41 outings a season ago… C Sean Kuraly registered his second career (reg. season) multi-goal outing with his first two goals as a Blue Jacket on Friday… G Elvis Merzlikins is 5-1-0 on the campaign with a 1.98 GAA and .940 SV%, including a 5-0-0 record with a 1.58 GAA and .951 SV% at home… C Alexandre Texier has picked up points in two-straight games (1-1-2) after collecting his first assist of the campaign on Friday (3-1-4, 11 GP)… RW Jakub Voracek has assists in four consecutive games (0-6-6) and leads the team in assists with 0-11-11 in 11 outings.

MILESTONES

•     RW Oliver Bjorkstrand is nine points from 200 in his NHL career (88-103-191, 313 GP).

•     C Alexandre Texier is two games from 100 in his NHL career (14-19-33, 98 GP).

•     D Zach Werenski is five points from 200 for his NHL career (67-128-195, 346 GP).

OhioHEALTH INJURY REPORT

•     RW Emil Bemstrom (left oblique strain; Injured Reserve on Oct. 14) is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks

•     D Adam Boqvist (lower body) is day-to-day

•     D Dean Kukan (wrist fracture; Injured Reserve on Oct. 26) is expected to miss 8 weeks

•     C Max Domi (COVID Protocols on Nov. 1)

•     LW Patrik Laine (oblique strain; Injured Reserve on Nov. 5) is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 31

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