New York Rangers (28-11-4, first in the Metropolitan) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (18-21-1, fifth in the Metropolitan)
Columbus, Ohio; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
LINE: Blue Jackets +180, Rangers -222; over/under is 6
BOTTOM LINE: Columbus comes into the matchup against New York after losing three games in a row.
The Blue Jackets are 5-8-0 against Metropolitan teams. Columbus is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 5.2 assists per game, led by Jakub Voracek averaging 0.7.
The Rangers are 17-4-0 in Eastern Conference play. New York ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference recording 8.2 points per game, averaging 3.0 goals and 5.2 assists.
New York defeated Columbus 5-3 in the last meeting between these teams on Nov. 13. Chris Kreider scored two goals for the Rangers in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Oliver Bjorkstrand has 27 total points for the Blue Jackets, 12 goals and 15 assists. Gustav Nyquist has 8 points over the last 10 games for Columbus.
Ryan Lindgren leads the Rangers with a plus-18 in 40 games this season. Kreider has 11 goals and two assists over the last 10 games for New York.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jackets: 3-7-0, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.9 assists, 3.8 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.7 goals per game with an .895 save percentage.
Rangers: 7-3-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 6.2 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game with a .923 save percentage.
INJURIES: Blue Jackets: Alexandre Texier: day to day (upper body).
Rangers: Filip Chytil: day to day (lower body).
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