Fantilli secures hat trick in Jackets’ 7-3 win over Rangers

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    NEW YORK — Adam Fantilli showcased his scoring prowess with a remarkable three-goal performance, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a commanding 7-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday night.
    Mathieu Olivier and Dante Fabbro each contributed a goal and an assist, while Kent Johnson and Justin Danforth also found the back of the net for Columbus, which secured its fifth win in the last seven games. Zach Werenski and Dmitri Voronkov tallied two assists apiece, and goaltender Daniil Tarasov made a solid contribution with 30 saves.
    On the Rangers’ side, Artemi Panarin, Braden Schneider, and Chris Kreider registered goals, with Mika Zibanejad notching two assists. Jonathan Quick made 20 saves as New York suffered its third consecutive loss.
    Fantilli struck twice in quick succession, just 26 seconds apart early in the second period, putting Columbus ahead with a 3-1 lead.
    Schneider and Kreider then delivered short-handed goals for the Rangers, evening the score in just 42 seconds, but Columbus seized control thereafter.
    Olivier and Fabbro found the net late in the second period, extending the Blue Jackets’ advantage to 5-3.
    In the third period’s midpoint, Johnson scored, benefiting from a bounce off Rangers defenseman Zac Jones and a preceding shot attempt by Olivier, bringing the tally to 6-3.
    Fantilli completed his hat trick with 8:09 remaining, marking his second such achievement of the season.
    Key Insights: The Blue Jackets surged past Ottawa to clinch the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference standings, whereas the Rangers remained a point shy of a playoff position, trailing the Senators for the second wild card slot.
    Critical Moment: Fantilli’s standout moment came when he received a well-placed pass from Kirill Marchenko and fired a decisive shot past Quick from the circles, securing his third goal of the night.
    Noteworthy Statistic: Schneider and Kreider’s short-handed contributions elevated the Rangers to a league-leading total of 13 this season.
    Upcoming Matches: The Blue Jackets are set to face the Devils on Tuesday, while the Rangers embark on a three-game road trip starting at Winnipeg.