While the Columbus Blue Jackets can enjoy the view when they glance at the NHL standings, the New York Rangers find themselves bunched with several teams below the playoff line.
The Blue Jackets attempt to run their winning streak to seven games Saturday night when they visit the Rangers, who are on a six-game points streak.
Columbus is on its first six-game winning streak since Jan. 11-22, 2020, and is seeking seven straight victories for the first time since winning 10 straight March 4-22, 2018. This run is part of a 10-2-1 turnaround since a five-game skid dropped them to 12-15-5.
Thanks to their torrid stretch, the Blue Jackets have grabbed the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference by one point over the Boston Bruins.
The Blue Jackets have scored at least four goals nine times in this stretch, which continued with a 4-1 home win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson scored 4:06 apart in the first period before James van Riemsdyk scored twice.
It was the third win by at least three goals during the hot streak, and the Blue Jackets allowed 19 shots on goal for their second-lowest total this season.
“I definitely look. It’s fun to look at it now,” Johnson said of the standings. “I didn’t look too much the last couple years. It’s definitely a nice spot to be in. We just want to keep going.”
Fantilli is on a seven-game points streak and has four goals during Columbus’ winning streak, while defenseman Zach Werenski has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) during the turnaround. Kirill Marchenko is on a six-game points streak and has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) over his past 16 games.
The Blue Jackets began their turnaround while the Rangers were amid a 4-15-0 tumble towards the bottom of the standings. New York has shown signs of life lately by going 4-0-2 in its past six.
Due to last month’s skid, the Rangers are four points out of the second wild card, but they’re coming off their first third-period comeback of the season. New York rallied from three one-goal deficits and scored three times in the third frame of Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club.
The Rangers rebounded from Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche with their first win (1-17-1) when facing a deficit through the second. Chris Kreider scored the tiebreaking goal after Reilly Smith tied the score with a short-handed goal 28 seconds into the third.
“It was a good road trip,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “Even going back prior, I think we’ve been playing some good hockey. We’ve just got to continue to do that. We’ve got to remember what’s gotten us here. We’ve got to take that into every game, that mindset of what works for us right now. If we can do that, then we’re going to get a chance.”
Kreider is among those picking up his performance of late. He scored for the third time in his past five games after managing two goals in his previous 14 games.
Artemi Panarin also had two goals against Utah and has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past six games after totaling one goal and four assists in his previous 10.
–Field Level Media
