COLUMBUS, Ohio — The New York Rangers emerged victorious with a decisive 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, claiming the second Eastern Conference wild-card playoff position. Vincent Trocheck played a pivotal role by scoring twice in the third period, while Igor Shesterkin’s commendable performance contributed with 18 saves, marking his fifth shutout of the season.
Contributing to the Rangers’ impressive showing were Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin, both adding a goal and an assist to the team’s tally. This victory concluded a successful road trip, where the Rangers managed to win two of their three stops. They have maintained dominance over the Blue Jackets recently, securing victories in eight of the last eleven encounters, including three out of four this season.
Remarkably, four of Shesterkin’s 20 career shutouts have been achieved against Columbus, highlighting his strong performances against the Blue Jackets. On the other side of the rink, Daniil Tarasov also recorded 18 saves, but the Blue Jackets struggled in offense, suffering their third straight defeat, with no goals scored in their last two home games.
The game delivered notable takeaways for both teams. For the Rangers, an early error by the Blue Jackets allowed them to secure a lead they maintained throughout, securing their position in the wild-card race with 15 games remaining. The Blue Jackets, despite a vigorous start, were unable to capitalize, leading to a string of results where they’ve allowed an early goal in five out of the last six games, which they subsequently lost.
A key moment unfolded just 1:43 into the first period when Blue Jackets’ defenseman Damon Severson’s errant pass was intercepted by Mika Zibanejad. This led to a goal by Lafreniere, taking advantage of Tarasov’s unfortunate positioning. The comeback was hindered by early mistakes that the Blue Jackets could not overcome.
Highlighting the Rangers’ strong offensive stature is Artemi Panarin, who continues to lead with 29 goals and total 70 points, keeping up an eight-game streak of scoring. Remarkably, against his former team, Panarin has notched 15 goals and 15 assists across 22 games.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will face Edmonton on Sunday at home, whereas the Blue Jackets are set to host New Jersey this coming Monday.
