The Columbus Blue Jackets were in a daze until power forward Mathieu Olivier used physicality to snap them out of it; Kirill Marchenko extends streak

With Matt Rempe on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury suffered in an Oct. 23 fight with San Jose Sharks brawler Ryan Reaves, the responsibility to answer the bell has fallen squarely on Carrick’s shoulders. He’s embraced it with three spirited fights this season, which hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Welcome to another Saturday edition of NHL Predictions, with us here at Last Word On Hockey. The New York Rangers have finally begun to play up to expectations, winning their last two games, including their first home win of the season.

Two teams in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings hit the ice when the New York Rangers (9-7-2, ninth in conference) visit the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-7-1, 12th) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

A big reason why the Rangers have been inconsistent is because their skill players haven’t pulled their weight. But all of a sudden, Artemi Panarin has nine points and a plus-four rating in his last four games, and it is ostensibly related to a haircut.

Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner is back on IR, where he's spent time in each of the past five seasons for multiple issues.