Columbus @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 10, 2018 ) NY Rangers 5, Columbus 4

The Christmas break interrupted the hottest stretch of the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have ripped off four consecutive victories and are riding a six-game point streak (5-0-1) heading into Thursday night's matchup at the New York Rangers. Columbus also will be seeking its fourth straight win both on the road and against a Metropolitan Division rival.

The Blue Jackets are not satisfied despite extending their winning streak by blanking New Jersey 3-0 on Sunday as part of an impressive back-to-back on the road over the weekend. “There’s just a lot of things we need to clean up," assistant coach Brad Larsen said. "There’s another level to our game.” The Rangers squeezed out a 5-4 shootout win at Columbus on Nov. 10 during a 9-1-1 tear but they have won only three of their last 13 games (3-6-4) since. “We have to start winning here if you want to be part of that (playoff) race," New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said. "Take this break and regroup and realize how desperate we need to be coming back.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG2 (New York)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (21-12-3): Sergei Bobrovsky was in net for each of the past four victories, surrendering a total of four goals and bookending the streak with a pair of shutouts to earn NHL First Star of the Week honors on Monday. “I don’t want to think about this,” Bobrovsky said after his latest win. I have to make sure that I give my best to give the team a chance to win. It’s tough to go too far ahead or look back, so I try to live in the present, work hard and enjoy the result.” Cam Atkinson has scored four times in the past three games to boost his team-high total to 23 goals.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (15-14-6): New York is a solid 11-4-4 at Madison Square Garden but that record could be substantially better -- each of the past four home losses have come in overtime or a shootout since Dec. 2. "Losing a lot of close games, overtime, shootout, drains you a little bit, I'm not going to lie," Lundqvist said. "It's a little tough to feel like you're doing the right things but it's not paying off. You've just got to accept that it's been bouncing a little bit the wrong way, I guess." Lundqvist has lost three of his last four starts while posting a 2.84 goals-against average versus Columbus.

OVERTIME

1. Rangers F Kevin Hayes has five goals and eight assists during a career-best seven point point streak.

2. Atkinson has nine goals in 21 games against the Rangers.

3. New York D Jimmy Vesey scored a last-minute tying goal before delivering the shootout winner in the November matchup.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Rangers 2