NBC to air Blue Jackets-Rangers Saturday if win-streak record in play

There is a little more on the line for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets face off against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, and a victory will see the team tie the NHL record for the longest all-time win streak of 17, set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.

The game will air in front of both team's local markets. The national stage on Thursday has been reserved for the Chicago Blackhawks and the 28th-place Buffalo Sabres.

But if the Blue Jackets can tie the record, they'll have a chance at center stage on Saturday when they face the New York Rangers and aim to take claim of the record, with NBC announcing the scheduling change Thursday.

NBC is the official national broadcaster of the NHL in the United States.

This season, NBC has slated the Blackhawks for 21 national appearances. As it stands, the Blue Jackets have a single national game on the docket, a Feb. 13 match against the Rangers.