Game Preview: Streaking Rangers Bring NHL's Best Record Into Columbus For Sunday Battle With Blue Jackets

NY RANGERS

39-16-3 (81 pts; .698%) 1st, Metro Division ROSTER SCHEDULE

6:00 P.M. – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH

TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play (Out of Market)

On the heels of a 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back in action Sunday evening when they face the red-hot New York Rangers.

This is the first of back-to-back games against the Rangers, who will hit the ice riding a ten-game winning streak. The Blue Jackets will travel to Madison Square Garden on Thursday to complete the home-and-home.

Columbus is the only team standing between the Rangers and a perfect February; nine of their team wins have come since February 1st and the Blue Jackets are New York's only remaining opponent of the month.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets and Rangers go to battle Sunday evening:

TALKING POINTS: NYR

• New York's dominant streak has propelled them to a 39-16-3 record, 81 points, and a .698 point percentage — the highest in the NHL. The Vancouver Canucks have one more points (82) than the Rangers, but have two additional games played (60, compared to New York's 58). Their winning streak started with a 7-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on January 27th, and they've outscored the opposition 41-19 over the ten-game winning streak.
   
• Who knows how things would've panned out had he stayed, but it's difficult not to miss Artemi Panarin. The former Blue Jacket leads the Rangers in goals (32), assists (46), and points (78). No other Ranger has hit 30 goals, 40 assists, or 55 points yet this season. Panarin, who has 44% more points than anyone else on the Rangers, is the catalyst behind New York's surge to the top of the standings.

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• Sunday's game will be the first time the Blue Jackets have had back-to-back games at Nationwide Arena in more than five weeks and is just the second time since Christmas that the club has had consecutive games in front of the home crowd. Friday's game was sold out, with another sellout expected for Sunday. 
   
• With a 4-for-4 performance on the penalty kill Friday night, Columbus' PK unit has now stopped eight straight opposition power plays. Baby steps. It was also just the second time in the last 27 games that the power play had scored (Dmitri Voronkov with that tally) and the penalty kill had a clean sheet. As a point of reference, the Rangers have accomplished that feat ten times over the last 31 games. Special teams are crucial. 
   
•  No decision has been made as of early Sunday morning, but it feels like this a game that Daniil Tarasov should start for the Blue Jackets. He made 35 saves on 37 shots and the resulting .946 save percentage was his second-highest mark of the season. Head coach Pascal Vincent will announcer the starter, and any lineup changes, late Sunday morning. That said, here are the projected (and subject to change) lines: