Are they running out of gas?
Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves and Vincent Trocheck scored twice as the New York Rangers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena.
Since their 4-0 run out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Blue Jackets are 1-5-0.
Warmer Temperatures, Frozen Offense
The weather is getting nicer, the playoffs are looming, and the Blue Jackets offense is as cold as ice — and at the worst possible time.
For the first time since Dec. 2008 — and the first time ever at home — the Blue Jackets have been shut out in consecutive games after losing 4-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday and 4-0 to the Rangers on Saturday.
Tonight's 40 loss to the Rangers was the second game in a row the Blue Jackets have been shut out. It's the first time since December 2008 that the Jackets have been shut out in back-to-back games.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 16, 2025
The franchise mark? Three straight games in December 2001.#CBJ
After Saturday's loss, the Jackets are on the wrong side of the playoff divider line for the first time since Feb. 25 as the Rangers take over the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The game got off to a dubious start when Alexis Lafreniere (15) scored at 1:43 of the first period on a botched play when Damon Severson made a costly turnover and Daniil Tarasov was caught behind his own net. Mika Zibanejad (34) was able to center the puck to Lafreniere who made it 1-0.
#CBJ botched that one up royally. Severson coughs the puck up to Zibanejad, then Tarasov gets caught coming out of the cage. Zibanejad backhand centers it to LaFreniere for the easy bury.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 15, 2025
1-0 #NYR at 1:43 of the first.
Alexis Lafreniere - New York Rangers (15) pic.twitter.com/3TD2Z7ulXR
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) March 16, 2025
Artemi Panarin had two points with a goal and an assist to extend his point streak (six goals, six assists) to eight games. His 29th goal at 11:36 of the second period made it 2-0. Lafreniere (23) and Will Borgen (7) had the assists.
Trocheck scored both of his goals in the third period, making it 3-0 at 14:38 on his 19th. Panarin picked up his 42nd assist while Will Cuylle added his 19th. Trocheck scored with the empty net at 16:41 for his 20th. J.T. Miller (37) and Adam Fox (44) added the assists. Miller is on a three-game point streak (three assists). Fox (upper body) played in his first game since Feb. 25 and is on an eight-game point streak (two goals, seven assists).
It was the second consecutive game in which the opponent scored first and on their first shot. Since Mar. 4, when the Jackets' recent slide started, they're 30th in the league in goals for per game (2.00).
Playing catch-up once again, the Jackets were unable to solve Shesterkin, who has a shutout streak of 141:36 against the Blue Jackets. Four of his 20 career shutouts have come against the Blue Jackets including his last two starts. His first this season came on Jan. 18 when the Rangers won 1-0 in a shootout. Tarasov made the start for Columbus in that game and recorded his first career shutout. He made 17 saves on 20 shots on Saturday.
The Jackets have been shut out for the third time in five games.
#CBJ shut out for a second straight game and third time in five games. #NYR win 4-0.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 16, 2025
The current streak without a goal 129 minutes, 31 seconds is the longest of the season at the worst possible time.
With #CBJ D Jake Christiansen (upper body) missing tonight's game vs. #NYR, four Blue Jackets players have appeared in all 66 games for the Blue Jackets this season: Adam Fantilli, Sean Kuraly, Mathieu Olivier, and Ivan Provorov.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 15, 2025
Marchenko's 200th
He'd rather have a win but Saturday's game was a milestone night for Kirill Marchenko as he played in his 200th career game.
The 2024-25 campaign has been a career year for the third-year pro, as Marchenko has career highs in points (62), goals (25), and assists (37). He leads Columbus in goals, is second in points and assists, and leads the team with a plus-31. Marchenko is tied for fifth in the league in plus/minus.
Where Things Stand
Point blank the Blue Jackets are on the wrong side of the playoff picture but there are 16 games remaining as they sit two points out of a playoff spot.
#CBJ head coach Dean Evason postgame: "Everybody's talked about it before. Whenever teams are in a bit of a funk, you need something positive to happen. Which, we'll work (for). We've never not worked.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 16, 2025
"It would be a different story if I came in here and said we got outworked
Columbus battles the New Jersey Devils on Monday and the Florida Panthers on Thursday to wrap up the homestand.
As bleak as things feel at the moment, Columbus still has an opportunity to right the ship but obviously, they have to find their game. The Jackets have one of the best home records in the league at 20-8-4 but are on a two-game losing streak at Nationwide Arena for the first time since dropping consecutive games Feb. 6-8.
Columbus has 24 wins when scoring first, tied for 12th in the league, but only seven when trailing first (30th) which has been the case of late. The power play is 23rd in the league (19.4%) but 31st in the league (12.5%) since Sean Monahan went down with a wrist injury on Jan. 7. Without Monahan in the lineup since Jan. 8, they're 4-for-46 with the man advantage (32nd).
Erik Gudbranson is expected to return to the lineup next week. Monahan and Cole Sillinger recently skated as they work their way back.
Devil Of A Rematch
The Blue Jackets look to stop the bleeding when they host the Devils on Monday, Mar. 17 at 7 p.m. ET.
