Interesting zebras note from #CBJ game at MSG. After Bowness/Werenski complained about a lack of power plays, the refs in NYC were Wes McCauley/Morgan MacPhee. MacPhee worked the Jackets' first game back from the break, 4-2 loss in Boston (1 PP); McCauley worked Sat OTL to the Isles (0 PP).

#CBJ got one power play for the Rangers' bench being mean to refs Wes McCauley and Morgan MacPhee and that was it. They went 1 for 1. In the past four games, the Jackets have gotten a total of three power plays and are 2/3 on them. They're getting the fewest PP opportunities in the NHL yet again.

Double whammy ... Olivier rolls his ankle trying to block a shot and the Rangers cut it to 4-3 with 7:08 remaining. My god. #CBJ

Cuylle with a dangerous hit from behind there that sent Provorov slamming into the end boards headfirst. No boarding call on the Rangers forward. Unreal. #CBJ

How do the zebras not call that blatant elbow to Marchenko's face there? Oh, yes, Rule 6.14.

And it's 4-2 just like that. My god, this team and goalie in third periods ... Rangers right back in this thing early 3rd. #CBJ

Oh boy ... here we go. Former #CBJ Vladislav Gavrikov beats his friend, Elvis Merzlikins, less than a minute into the third period and cuts the Blue Jackets' lead to 4-1.

End of two there in NYC and it's 4-0 #CBJ on two more goals in the second by Monahan (SHG) and Olivier.

Olivier and it's 4-0 #CBJ ... Shesterkin is usually a brick wall against Columbus. The Jackets are sniping tonight.

Short side, over the glove of Shesterkin there by Monahan for his 11th goal of the season, a shorty for the #CBJ

Now Monahan caps a 2-on-1 with a snipe to make it 3-0 #CBJ early 2nd.

Wow, holy moly. I take it back. Great challenge. Goal overturned for goaltending interference, which remains an absolute mystery of a call both ways. Back to 2-0 #CBJ

This is not goaltending interference, IMO. I'd be shocked if they overturn this goal. Not a smart challenge if they lose it. #CBJ

End of one period there in New York and the #CBJ are leading the Rangers 2-0 at MSG on goals from Fantilli and Marchenko (PPG).

OK, so it wasn't too many men on the Rangers. It was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against New York's bench. Either way, Marchenko made them pay for whatever the infraction was. #CBJ

Marchenko's one-timer from the left circle appeared to hit defenseman Matthew Robertson's stick and changed angles on Shesterkin. I've never heard of Mathew Robertson in my life, but I'm sure Sullivan would play him more than Werenski if they were teammates. #CBJ

And make it 2-0 now on Marchenko's PPG. #CBJ

Penalty to the Rangers was for too many men on the ice, which looked at least a little dubious. But the #CBJ will take their one power play for the night, leading 1-0.

#CBJ get a power play here, which as we all know is a rarity for the team from Columbus. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan, who's getting a break not having to play the guy he skated 12+ mins in the gold medal game, looks stunned. Imagine his surprise if he coached in Columbus.

#CBJ without Zach Werenski tonight. Illness. Provorov moves up to skate with Severson, playing the left point. www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

According to Boots on the Ground in New York (Jeff Svoboda and FanDuel's Dave Maetzold), Elvis Merzlikins will start tonight for the #CBJ at MSG. There might be a lineup change due to illness, which will be made at gametime.

Islanders win again, this time on an Anders Lee goal with 31 seconds left in regulation that was identical to Holmstrom’s OT goal to down the #CBJ last night. Far side tuck after scooting around a defender. Isles now 9 pts ahead of the Jackets.

Another crazy puck luck goal for the Islanders, Schaefer a one-timer that hits multiple players, then Bobrovsky, then the crossbar, then Bobrovsky again and into the net. They scored three pretty much like that last night vs #CBJ … it’s like watching Happy Gilmore play putt-putt golf.

#CBJ postgame video wrap from yours truly. Jackets fall 4-3 in OT to the Islanders, another gut wrenching loss in a game they needed to win.

Ohio U student won a shoot the puck challenge during the second intermission and won $10,000 for the impressive effort. #CBJ

That's Werenski's second point of the game with the primary assist. He's got two apples so far tonight. We're through two periods tied 3-3. #CBJ

3-3 with 1:02 left ... Fantilli wins the faceoff clean, Werenski scoops it, wheels, fires and the puck hits Fantilli in the back side before deflecting past Sorokin. That makes up for the Islanders goal off Werenski's leg. #CBJ

3-2 Islanders. Puck skips off Greaves, off Werenski and into the #CBJ net ... that's about as Blue Jackets of a goal allowed as you'll ever see.

Two big kills there for the #CBJ to keep it 2-2 late 2nd.

Wheels just about off the #CBJ wagon here. Jenner now sent off for tripping on the PK with six seconds left in the delay of game call, keeping the Islanders on a 5v4 PP.

And the Pageau goal was upheld. Shocking, I know. Islanders get the PP that I spoke of below.

My rule of thumb with the #CBJ and coaching challenges is this ... if you have concrete evidence for a missed offside, challenge. If you think it's goaltender interference, don't give the NHL a chance to give your opponent a PP after they just scored a goal.

2-2 ... because of course it is. Pageau kicked it into the net but that did not look deliberate. #CBJ challenging for goaltending inteference.

2-1 ... right after the #CBJ peppered the Islanders net without scoring a goal. You have to keep scoring goals. That's kind of the point in this sport. Anders Lee, who always scores against the Blue Jackets, whacks one past Greaves after taking a shot up high and having the rebound drop to his feet

Fantastic shift there by the #CBJ fourth line, pinning the puck into the Islanders' end for a long time and making Sorokin work hard to keep the Jackets from pushing their lead to 3-0. Flip side? Probably needed a goal there.

Assists to Coyle and Werenski on the Marchment goalm, extending Werenski's point streak to nine games. #CBJ

2-0 Marchment off a juicy rebound in the lower half of the right circle, 3:58 into the 2nd. #CBJ

Second period of ice hockey has commenced here in Columbus, Ohia. #CBJ up 1-0 on Islanders.

End of one in Columbus and it's 1-0 #CBJ over the Islanders. Blue Jackets have an 11-4 shot advantage after 20 minutes.

Rookie Matthew Schaefer left the ice hobbled just before the end of the first period. Got a little shot from Marchenko in the defensive zone, hit the wall and stayed down. Looked like a leg issue. #CBJ

Fans tonight showed up to the sight of white "Fight For Glory" rally towels draped over their seats, almost like it's the playoffs. Fitting because every game now is akin to a playoff game for the #CBJ

Hockey being played here at Nationwide Arena, #CBJ and Islanders engaging in a big Metropolitan Division tilt.

Pregame tribute to #CBJ D Zach Werenski. Olympians Elvis Merzlikins (Latvia), Bo Horvat (Canada) and Ondrej Palat (Czechia) also recognized.

As the #CBJ and Islanders ended warmup, the Green Day song, 'American Idiot" blared out of the arena's sound system. And off we go in Columbus.

Werenski's jersey and gold medal will be on display on the main concourse for an hour outside Section 108. The puck drops tonight vs the Islanders a little after 6 p.m. This one's expected to be a sellout w/a full standing room only crowd.

Based on the number of Islanders sweaters I saw walking around Columbus this afternoon, support for the visitors tonight is likely going to be high. #CBJ expecting a sellout, though, so plenty of Jackets fans coming too.

#CBJ D Zach Werenski met with reporters after morning skate. www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Jet Greaves will start vs Islanders, Kent Johnson is sitting and Danton Heinen draws back in to play with Jenner and Monahan. Bowness spoke to Johnson today, said he looked at a lot of goals Johnson scored last season and told him that he needs to see more of how he played last year. #CBJ

Along with Johnson not on a line, Voronkov is back to the fourth line and Heinen is skating in Johnson’s former spot at RW on the second line. #CBJ

Kent Johnson wasn’t on one of the top four lines at the #CBJ morning skate. That indicates he’ll likely be scratched tonight vs the Islanders.