It was another tight affair for the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the break.
Will Cuylle had two points with the game-winning goal and an assist as the New York Rangers got by the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena.
The Jackets, losers of four straight, had their six-game home point streak snapped.
Another Point
Zach Werenski picked up his team-leading 42nd assist in the first period on Kent Johnson's goal to add to his home point streak and make it 21 consecutive games with a point.
The streak lives on!
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 9, 2025
Zach Werenski, who will represent at the #4Nations Face-Off, tied Bobby Orr (21 GP in 1970-71) for the fourth-longest home point streak by a defenseman in NHL history. #NHLStats: https://t.co/xwupVf6YVj pic.twitter.com/5f37KwIewz
Longest home point streaks by a defenseman in NHL history.
— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) February 9, 2025
Bobby Orr 25
Paul Coffey 23
Phil Housley 22
Orr/Zach Werenski 21#CBJ
Johnson's goal tied the score 1-1 at 14:31. Adam Fantilli picked up his 17th assist on the play and played 26:59 for the game.
One period in the books and here's the first of two goals in the opening frame by the #CBJ, who lead it 2-1.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2025
A clean pass from Z in the slot over to KJ, who picks up his 17th of the season. pic.twitter.com/R4ewLy0NBp
#CBJ Adam Fantilli played a career-high 26:59 tonight. That's the eighth-most by a forward in a regulation game this season in the NHL.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 9, 2025
Another Close One
The Eastern Conference is crowded in the playoff chase, and the Blue Jackets have played close games every night lately.
Since Jan. 25, six of the last seven Blue Jackets games have been decided by one goal. The loss to the Dallas Stars, which started the current four-game losing streak, was a close one decided by two goals.
Missing Kirill Marchenko and Dante Fabbro in the previous three games, Columbus has done well to earn two points over the past week but just hasn't been able to find the crucial goal they need.
Dean Evason on the Rangers' winning goal: "(Mateychuk) tried to the right thing -- kept it on his forehand, moved it north. They get a tip of a stick on it, it hits the boards, comes exactly onto the tape, the guy makes a fantastic shot. It happens, right?" #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 9, 2025
Saturday's game appeared headed for overtime and a crucial standings point but a weird bounce off the boards went the Rangers' way.
WILL CUYLLE CALLS GAME pic.twitter.com/JOIUcUZVX2
— NHL (@NHL) February 9, 2025
Dean Evason on the Rangers' winning goal: "(Mateychuk) tried to the right thing -- kept it on his forehand, moved it north. They get a tip of a stick on it, it hits the boards, comes exactly onto the tape, the guy makes a fantastic shot. It happens, right?" #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 9, 2025
More Dean Evason: "We just talked about it (as a staff). We just went up and down the lineup -- could you fault anybody in tonights hockey game? Was anybody bad on our team? No. So thats all we're going to ask as a coaching staff." #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 9, 2025
Numbers Game
The Blue Jackets have gone nine straight games without a power-play goal (0-for-12) but they didn't really get the chance to break that streak as neither team had a power-play opportunity in the game.
Tonight marked the 4th time in #CBJ history that both teams did not have a power play opportunity in a game.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) February 9, 2025
Previous
Nov. 19, 2018 at Toronto (2-4 L)
Apr. 6, 2019 at Ottawa (6-2 W)
Mar. 13, 2021 vs. Dallas (4-3 OTW)
It's the second game in the stretch Columbus did not have a power play. They also didn't have a power play in the 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 23. There are three games in that span in which the Blue Jackets and their opponent — Buffalo Sabres, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings — had only one chance and were 0-for-1.
Mathieu Olivier had a career-high seven shots on goal and six hits in 20:06. Ivan Provorov's three-game goal streak came to an end. He is one of six Blue Jackets defensemen to score in three straight games. Jason Christensen played in his 100th career game.
Next Game In Two Weeks
With the Four Nations Face-Off underway next week, the Blue Jackets are off until Saturday, Feb. 22 when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. ET.
