Long before the New York Rangers began their upward climb, one of their worst showings of the season was a four-goal home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 23. It wasn't long before the Rangers got rolling, but some of those early stumbles may prevent them from getting home-ice advantagein the first round of the postseason. Trying to track down the second place New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers hope to inch closer to clinching a playoff spot -- if they have not officially done so -- ahead of Tuesday's visit from the Blue Jackets. New York (43-20-10, 96 points) will be at least four points behind the Devils entering Tuesday but also could clinch a playoff spot before taking the ice.
Sean Kuraly was supposed to miss the rest of the Blue Jackets' season or only return for the last game or two. After injuring an oblique in practice March 2, he was issued a six-week recovery estimate but has already logged two games since returning three weeks early Friday against the New York Islanders. Heading into a two-game trip to play the New York Rangers on Tuesday and Boston Bruins on Thursday, Kuraly is motivated to finish the Blue Jackets' frustrating, injury-ravaged season on his terms. “This is just (that) I'm 100% healthy,” Kuraly said.
THROUGH GAMES OF MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023 Columbus Blue Jackets POS NO. PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW S PCTG F 13 Johnny Gaudreau 70 18 49 67 -29 22 3 0 3 184 .098 F 29 Patrik Laine 55 22 30 52 -12 16 8 0 1 184 .120 F 38 Boone Jenner 61 25 18 43 -26 40 7 0 3 200 .125 F 96 Jack Roslovic 69 9 32 41 -9 10 2 2 2 109 .083 F 91 Kent Johnson 69 15 23 38 -13 12 4 0 3 100 .150 D 27 Adam Boqvist 39 5 17 22 -7 6 0 0 1 60 .083 F 86 Kirill Marchenko 49 19 3 22 -15 10 6 0 0 102 .186 F 28 Gustav Nyquist 48 10 12 22 -11 16 0 2 2 97 .103 F 50 Eric Robinson 65 10 11 21 -17 6 0 0 1 95 .105 F 52 Emil Bemstrom 45 6 14 20 -7 6 2 0 0 81 .074 F 7 Sean Kuraly 61 10 7 17 -22 66 0 1 0 88 .114 F 24 Mathieu Olivier 66
No | Player | Pos |
---|---|---|
15 | D | |
22 | D | |
52 | RW | |
75 | D | |
77 | D | |
27 | D | |
23 | D | |
17 | RW | |
64 | RW | |
19 | C | |
13 | LW | |
32 | G | |
44 | D | |
31 | G | |
38 | C | |
91 | C | |
7 | C | |
29 | LW | |
86 | RW | |
41 | C | |
90 | G | |
24 | RW | |
18 | C | |
2 | D | |
50 | LW | |
96 | C | |
6 | D | |
8 | D |