Nationwide Arena Showdown: Columbus Blue Jackets Face Off Against New York Rangers

As the Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to host the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can maintain the momentum from their recent victory. The upcoming clash scheduled for April 8th promises to be an exciting encounter in the NHL calendar.

The Blue Jackets have shown a mixed bag of results in their past few games. Their most recent outing against the New Jersey Devils ended in a tough loss, with a significant goal deficit reflecting defensive vulnerabilities. The team managed only one goal on 17 shots, translating to a mere six percent shooting accuracy. Furthermore, they conceded eight goals from 36 shots faced, indicating an underwhelming save percentage of approximately 78 percent.

However, looking back at their performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs provides some optimism. Despite losing that game as well, they put up a stronger fight with two goals scored and an impressive goaltending display that saw them save 46 out of 49 shots – a commendable save percentage of around 92 percent.

It's worth noting that when playing at home in Nationwide Arena recently against the Ottawa Senators, the Blue Jackets secured an overtime win with four goals on just 22 shots – showcasing an impressive shooting percentage of around 18 percent. This victory was backed by solid goaltending and winning over half of faceoffs contested.

With these statistics in mind and returning to play on home ice where they've recently tasted success could give Columbus an edge over their opponents. However, consistency remains key for them as they look to build upon their strengths and address areas needing improvement.

Fans can catch this matchup live on ESPN+ or BSOH for local broadcasts or MSG for away coverage. Puck drop is set for April 8th at Nationwide Arena; make sure not to miss what is expected to be another thrilling game in Ohio's capital city.