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New York Rangers get their 4th in a row with 3-1 win over Columbus

By Steve Paulus

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 5: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers makes a save during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 5, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. New York defeated Columbus 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 5: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers makes a save during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 5, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. New York defeated Columbus 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 5: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers deflects the puck wide of the net during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 5, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. New York defeated Columbus 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 5: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers deflects the puck wide of the net during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 5, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. New York defeated Columbus 3-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

This was a game that felt like the playoffs.  Both the New York Rangers and the Columbus Blue Jackets played with that kind of intensity and the Blueshirts won it with a goal with only three minutes left in the game.

David Quinn constantly talks about battle levels and the need to compete.  After this game he has to be pleased.  The New York Rangers battled on the boards and in front of the net and they played the perfect road game against an outstanding defensive team.  It’s their first four game winning streak since November 2018, and they have now won five in a row on the road.

It was a great effort and since the All-Star break, the Rangers have won seven of nine games and have made talk of the playoffs much more than just wishful thinking.

Alexandar Georgiev got the nod in goal for the second straight night and he was outstanding. He stopped 36 of 37 shots in getting his 14th win of the season.  The question coming out of this game is who David Quinn will turn to on Sunday when the Boston Bruins come to Madison Square Garden.  Although he declared Shesterkin his number one goalie,  this was a statement game for Georgiev.

The game was a tale of special teams with the Rangers winning the battle.  The key for them was killing a double minor in the second period.  Chris Kreider’s game winning goal was essentially a power play goal as he scored two seconds after a Columbus penalty expired.

It was the second straight game that came down to the last few minutes of the third period and at last, the Rangers are showing a will to win that wasn’t present in the beginning of the season.  Their confidence has never been higher and Sunday’s match with the Bruins should be a doozy.

They did without Anthony DeAngelo as he sat out the game, suffering the effects of a hard check he threw in the third period of the Minnesota game.  Marc Staal returned from his bout with the flu so Brendan Smith played his second good game, this time on the right side.

With the win, the Rangers closed to within seven points of the Blue Jackets, who occupy the final wild card spot.  The key is that the Blueshirts have two games in hand and are healthy while the Blue Jackets are definitely showing the effects of the boatload of injuries that they have suffered.

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