New York Rangers recap: The tank grinds on vs. Blue Jackets
The New York Rangers fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-3, on Tuesday night. In a busy night of NHL action, the Rangers’ chances of a better draft pick improved with the loss.
The New York Rangers lost to Artemi Panarin and the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-3. Panarin scored three goals and added an assist. He completed his second career hat trick (both against the Rangers) when he scored into an empty net with only seconds left.
Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider scored power play goals for the Rangers, while Kevin Hayes added a shorthanded marker.
Henrik Lundqvist was under siege early, but made save after save. The Blue Jackets broke through when Alexander Wennberg converted a pass from behind the net. Midway through the second period, Panarin scored his first of the game to make it 2-0.
Hayes’ shorthanded breakaway goal brought the Rangers within one, but Columbus scored three times in the third period to seal the game.
Lundqvist made 26 saves on 30 shots, including a spectacular block on a Blue Jackets two-on-zero. He was briefly shaken up when Columbus forward Matt Calvert went barreling into him, but stayed in the game.
Notes and analysis
- The New York Rangers lost in regulation on Tuesday night, keeping them at 72 points. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and Detroit Red Wings won, closing the standings gaps between them and the Rangers.
- Artemi Panarin’s hat trick—his second against the Rangers—brings his career totals vs. New York to 10-2—12. He has six goals against the Rangers just this season.
- Neal Pionk continues to impress in his audition with the Rangers. He added another power play assist, feeding Zibanejad for a third-period goal. Pionk has seven assists in his last five games, three of which came on the power play.
- The Rangers’ top line of Kreider (72.0%), Zibanejad (73.1%), and Jesper Fast (69.2%) continued their strong play, dominating shot attempts at even strength.
- Zibanejad leads the Rangers in power play goals with 13. His top-corner snipe on Sergei Bobrovsky was his team-leading 25th goal of the season.
- Zibanejad is on a five-game point streak, amassing six goals and three assists over that span.
- Chris Kreider extended his point streak with a late power play goal. In typical Kreider fashion, he deflected a Brady Skjei shot through Bobrovsky’s legs.
- Kreider has two goals and five assists in his last three games. Both goals, as well as two assists, came with the man advantage.
Three stars of the game
#1: Artemi Panarin
Though this section is normally reserved for Rangers players, Panarin deserves a special mention. His complete dominance of the Rangers stretches back three years to his rookie season with Chicago. The Russian winger leads Columbus in goals and points, and it’s in part due to his six goals in four games against New York this year.
While his hat trick was completed on an empty net, Panarin still controlled the play in New York on Tuesday night. He fed a perfect pass to Markus Nutivaara for the Jackets’ second goal, and his other two goals were beautiful finishes on scoring chances.
#2: Kevin Hayes
Hayes scored his career-best 21st goal on a shorthanded breakaway, but he had the chances for several more. Hayes seems to have developed some chemistry with Jesper Fast on the penalty kill, giving the Rangers a shorthanded scoring threat.
Since the departure of Michael Grabner, the Rangers haven’t had that dangerous transition game on the penalty kill. Hayes’ play against the Blue Jackets helped reestablish that.
#3: Mika Zibanejad
Zibanejad kept his streak alive, scoring a late power play goal. The Rangers’ top-line center has been a revelation of late, scoring multiple goals in back-to-back games before Tuesday’s tally.
Zibanejad’s effectiveness on the power play was on full display. His goal was a pure snipe, placed just inside the left post as Kreider screened the Columbus goaltender. He finished the game with five shots on goal.
Next: Analyzing top draft prospect Brady Tkachuk
Zibanejad’s play since Kreider’s return has been nothing short of remarkable. Though the Rangers are finishing out a lost season, the duo’s chemistry and ability to take over games is a bright spot for next season and beyond.