From Rock Bottom to Redemption: Rangers Silence the Cannon and Save Their Season

How do you respond to rock bottom?

The New York Rangers had just suffered their worst loss of the season—a brutal 3-2 defeat at MSG to the last-place Pittsburgh Penguins, a team missing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. It was the kind of loss that made you question everything. Head Coach Peter Laviolette's postgame press conference lasted all of 35 seconds. He had nothing to say. What was there to say? The mood on the flight to Columbus must have been somber, the weight of a season slipping away and pressing down on everyone.

Then the puck dropped at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, and the Blueshirts answered the only way they could, by fighting for their season. In a game they had to have, New York stormed into Columbus and silenced the cannon with a gritty 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets. It wasn't perfect, but it was desperate. It was determined. It was the response they needed. With their playoff hopes virtually hanging in the balance, they left with two points and a regulation victory that might save their season as they head into the Four Nations break, just three out of a playoff spot with 27 contests remaining.

Fast start, Familiar Problems:

The Blue Jackets opened the game with a strong 30-second attack, but the Rangers survived the early push. Coming off last night's brutal home loss, New York had a golden opportunity to gain a four-point swing in the wild card race, whether they would take advantage of it or fall flat again.

Peter Laviolette responded to the loss by shaking up the lineup. Jimmy Vesey, who had been a healthy scratch for weeks, was suddenly promoted to the first line, while Mika Zibanejad was dropped to third-line center. This move felt drastic, given how strong he had looked alongside Artemi Panarin and K'Andre Miller. Arthur Kaliyev was reinserted for Jonny Brodzinski, which was expected at some point, and he wasted no time making an impact. Less than two minutes into the game, Kaliyev drove hard to the net, absorbed contact, stayed with the puck, and pulled off a one-handed wraparound goal. Just like that, the Rangers were up 1-0. He took his scratches personally.

New York completely controlled the early going, peppering Elvis Merzlikins. With a strong backhander, Vesey nearly doubled the lead, but Merzlikins shut it down with 16:23 left. Zibanejad had an opportunity to shoot but tried to force a pass to Chris Kreider instead, which didn't work. Trocheck fired a tough shot that was fought off, and Matt Rempe had a wide-open look, but Merzlikins denied him as well. The Rangers had already put eight shots on goal, and everyone could have gone in. Sitting three points ahead of them in the standings, Columbus looked lifeless early, probably still reeling from their 1-0 shootout loss to the Blueshirts a few weeks ago.

The Jackets struggled to generate much offense early, and when Adam Fantilli tried to make an extra move instead of keeping it simple, he turned the puck over. At that point, Columbus needed to adjust and get back to basics—dump and chase, for starters. Coming off his 400th career win, Jonathan Quick didn't have much to do, making just three saves in the first ten minutes. He stopped Sean Kuraly at 10:13, but for the most part, the Rangers were limiting Columbus' chances.

The Jackets finally showed signs of life during a wild scramble in front of Quick, where Cole Sillinger had an open look, but his shot hit Quick's pad. Lucas Del Bel Belluz had two cracks at it, but K'Andre Miller's body and skates blocked both attempts. That sequence seemed to ignite Columbus, and after bench boss Dean Evason lit into his team at a TV timeout, they came back with a surge.

Zach Werenski, now with a point in 21 straight home games, set up Kent Johnson after a turnover off Zibanejad's stick. Johnson left unmarked and buried a short-side shot past Quick to tie the game at one.

Just 58 seconds later, Zach Aston-Reese corralled a loose puck and fed Jack Johnson as he entered the zone. Johnson teed it perfectly, and Justin Danforth drove to the net at the right moment, deflecting the puck over Quick. That's how you execute a 3-on-2.

The Blue Jackets had two goals in 58 seconds, and every Michigan alum in their lineup—Fantilli, the Johnsons, and Werenski- had already recorded a point. Quick made a sprawling glove save to prevent a third goal after Del Bel Belluz had to double-clutch his shot, giving Quick enough time to recover.

Still, after getting embarrassed last night, the Rangers were again chasing the game. And the only guy to score so far? The one who wasn't even in the lineup for that loss.