Game Preview: Blue Jackets Make Quick Trip To Big Apple, Face Rangers In Pivotal Game

Five points behind a playoff spot, the Columbus Blue Jackets (29-21-8) have a chance to pick up a big two points Monday night when they make a quick trip to Manhattan to battle the New York Rangers (23-29-7).

Things have not gone the Blue Jackets way since the Olympic break: they've picked up just one of four possible points, including losses to the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, two teams just ahead of them in the playoff chase.

A win Monday would go a long way to offsetting that brief, 0-1-1 skid for the Blue Jackets.

Here are five things to know before the 7:00 p.m. puck-drop:

• Igor Shesterkin gets the start for the Rangers. He's been a bright spot in a dreadful season for New York, posting an 18-12-5 record and 2.45 goals against average to pair with a .913 save percentage. ... After the team traded Artemi Panarin just before the Olympic break, Mika Zibanejad is the only Ranger with 15+ goals this season. He's also the only player with 40+ points this season. ... New York has just seven wins at home this season, nearly half of any other team in the Eastern Conference; the second fewest has 13. 
   
• For Columbus, Elvis Merzlikins gets the start in goal. He stopped 19 of 22 shots (.864 save percentage) in Columbus' 4-2 loss Thursday to the Bruins, but remains 5-2-0 with a .916 save percentage in seven games under head coach Rick Bowness, who took over in the first half of January.
   
• With a point Monday night, Zach Werenski will hit a career high point streak of ten games. This is his second nine-game point streak of the season, and this time around he has two goals and 11 assists for a total of 13 points. He ranks second amongst defenseman in goals (20) and points (65). 
   
• Two players have the potential to reach 100 career goals in this one: both Miles Wood and Danton Heinen are at 99 in their NHL careers.
   
• There are no lineup changes as of now, per the Blue Jackets official site. However, there will be one game-time decision as a player is ill. If the lineup remains the same, that means a second straight game where Kent Johnson is a healthy scratch. Here are the complete lineup projections: