Rangers Trap Blue Jackets in a Straight Jacket to overtake Playoff Spot

A week ago, after the New York Rangers got steamrolled 7-3 by the Columbus Blue Jackets at MSG, my inbox was filled with the usual of panic only this passionate fanbase can deliver. One message, stuck out:"I am so depressed rn. I can’t believe this. The season is over. What happened?!?! It just hurts man they really stink." I laughed, shook my head, and shot back: “It’s not over yet.” Sturday night, the Rangers proved they're not done.

For a second time, on a Saturday night, the Blueshirts walked into Nationwide Arena with their 2024-25 campaign virtually on the line and walked out with one of their most complete performances of the year. The gut-check contest could have gone sideways fast. The Jackets entered with the same 70 points as New York, and had home-ice energy behind them. Yet the Rangers never blinked, seizing the moment and throttling Columbus with a 4-0 revenge shutout victory, taking three of four from them in the season series.

Rangers Take Over in the Second, Artemi Panarin Strikes Again:

From the first drop of the puck, the Blueshirts were under siege. Columbus peppered Igor Shesterkin with six quick shots before the Rangers even registered one. That was when one brutal, season-crushing mistake from Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov, who wandered out of his crease, mishandled the puck, gifted Alexis Lafrenière the most straightforward goal he'll ever score, snapping his fourteen match dryspell. Not even two minutes in, and the Blueshirts had a lead they'd never relinquish.

Those were the cannon's in a nutshell. They controlled significant chunks of play in the first, but each time the hosts pushed, the visitors found a way to keep them to the outside. There were no clean looks. With Columbus's power play in the middle of a miserable 3-for-42 stretch, the Rangers aggressive penalty kill had little trouble coating them in their own Blue Jackets.

In the second, Columbus went nearly seven minutes without a shot on goal. Meanwhile, Mika Zibanejad had a couple of prime chances to score, but his impact extended beyond just shot attempts. He played a strong two-way game, helping the Blueshirts maintain their structure when inside the defensive zone.

Artemi Panarin always one to torment his former team—buried his 15th career goal against the Jackets, and extended his point streak to eight games, with 12 in that span, ripping one past Tarasov to double the lead. The Rangers' breadman stepped up when they needed him, and from that point on, Columbus was toast.

Igor Shesterkin, Rangers defense, Stands Tall:

Columbus was desperate in the third as New Yorkers turtled. Eight minutes went by without a visitor shot on goal. It was all Blue Jackets but also all blocked shots, cleared pucks, and Igor Shesterkin calmly absorbing everything that made its way through. However, the Blueshirts were solid in front of him; weathering several heavy shifts against.

A week after surrendering 13 high-danger chances, they allowed just three in a raucous road environment. For context, an NHL team usually gives up at least six a night. It was a virtuoso defensive clinic, but head coach Peter Laviolette knows there’s no time for celebrating, as playoff races don’t wait for moral triumph's.

"We've got a lot of work to do. There's still teams that are right there. This thing juggles, other teams got a game in hand on us, and so none of that matters. We talked about it. We're in charge of what we do. We're in complete charge of winning hockey games and don't have to look anywhere else."

The Blueshirts tripled their advantge when Will Cuylle forced a neutral zone turnover, fed the Breadman and he found Vincent Trocheck in stride for a two-on-one tally.

Then, Adam Fox—back in the lineup after an eight-game absence due to injury—made the perfect defensive play, sparking a rush that led to Trocheck slamming the door with New York's 14th shorthanded goal, an empty-netter, and a 4-0 exclamation point.

Shesterkin was a wall with 21 saves, 2.84 goals saved above expected, and has 141:36 of personal shutout time against Columbus. The Rangers now sit alone in the second wild-card spot, taking full advantage of the Blue Jackets' collapse. They silenced the cannon. No goals and no boom were echoing through the arena. Only the "Fifth Line" faithful watching their fifth loss in six, the season slipping away, and their goals drought extending to 130 minutes, while Rangers fans ruled the building with "Igor" chants.

Taking control of the Playoff Race:

With this win, the Rangers move to 72 points, jumping two ahead of Columbus for the second conference wild card. They've gone 18-9-5 since January, ranking second in the Eastern realm. Meanwhile, Ottawa extended their winning streak to six, beating Toronto 4-2, to hold the first wild-card spot with 80 points.

The Senators are ten points ahead of Columbus with 16 games left. The Montreal Canadiens also stayed in the hunt, stunning the reigning Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers 3-1 at the Bell Centre, to climb within one point of New York, possessing a game in hand. With 15 tilts left, the Blueshirts now control their destiny. The playoff race is tighter than ever, but the boys showed they're built for the fight..