The Rangers fell to the Blue Jackets 5-3 on Tuesday. New York was behind the entire contest and rallied to pull within one goal three different times but could never find the equalizer. Artemi Panarin notched a hat trick, his last tally into an empty net with 1.7 seconds remaining. The Columbus winger loves facing the Blueshirts, as Panarin has 10 goals in eight career games against the Rangers, including his only other NHL hat trick (Feb. 17, 2016). Game recap:
Condensed Game:
MSG Post-Game:
Alexander Wennberg gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead off a wrist shot from between the circles at 14:05 of the first period, aided by a partial screen by Mats Zuccarello and defensive breakdown. Columbus upped the lead to 2-0 lead on a delayed penalty when Panarin scored at 9:28 of the second period. On the play, a major mistake by Jimmy Vesey, who opted to focus on the point man, leaving the slot wide open. Following all the trades, Vesey is receiving a chance to show he belongs and can become the north-south player coach Alain Vigneault desires. The jury is out on him, though, expectations likely were raised too high for him when he signed and he is what he is, a third player who won't be overly expensive on his next contract. But there is no guarantee he is back next season.
Kevin Hayes scored his first shorthanded goal of the season off a breakaway at 13:44 to cut the lead to 2-1. That marker came shortly after Hayes missed a chance by holding onto the puck too long. Later in the frame, Hayes rang one off the post. We can say what we want on Hayes, but he is now up to 21 goals and the defensive strides he made this year adds to his value, earning him more $ on his next contract.
Markus Nutivaara gave the Blue Jackets a 3-1 lead off a wrist shot from the slot at 4:05 of the third period before Mats Zibanejad scored a power-play goal to pull the Rangers within 3-2 at 7:16 helped by a Chris Kreider screen in front of Sergei Bobrovsky. Zibanejad, playing in his 400th NHL game Tuesday, extended his point-streak to four, during which has has nine points (six goals, three assists), with the tally.
Panarin scored his second of the game after finding a loose puck underneath Lundqvist and lifting it just inside the left post for a 4-2 lead at 11:19 of the third period. On the play, Lundqvist made the first stop and lost sight of the puck while the defense vacated the area in front of the net, allowing Panarin to pick up the loose change and put it past Hank.
Kreider scored a power-play goal at 18:08 with Lundqvist pulled for a 6-on-4 advantage to pull the Rangers within 4-3. The shot was heading wide, but Kreider, who has been on fire the last three weeks, made a brilliant deflection to beat Bobrovsky. But Panarin notched the empty net goal to seal the game,
Other Rangers notes: The Rangers were 2-for-4 on the power play and have scored at least one power play goal in each of the past four games (6-for-12). The team has looked so much better the past few weeks with their puck and plauer movement. Amazing what happens when you aren't stagnant in the offensive zone. Plus the return of Kreider has been huge.
Lundqvist was able to finish the game after John Gilmour and Matt Calvert collided into him in the high slot late in the third period. But he indicated after the contest that he was in pain and surprised that the collision even happened, leaving him off guard and not prepared. Lundqvist is not practicing today and has to be considered questionable for tomorrow's game against Philly. If Lundqvist has any sort of pain or discomfort moving forward, just play Alexandar Georgiev. No reason to risk any type of lingering injury into the offseason.
Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil may both come up and play Monday against Washington. Andersson could play tomorrow but New York may opt to have both rookies join the team at the same time. No official word has been provided that either or both definitely will be in NY or play, but no rationale reason exists not to have each come up and play to get experience at this level. Chytil played two games much earlier in the season, but he is a different more confident player now.
In continuing what I said last week, here is the run down for the last 16 games of the season. After losing to Winnipeg 3-0 on Tuesday, Tampa 5-3 on Thursday and Florida 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night, New York defeated Carolina 6-3 last night tonight and Pittsburgh 4-3 in overtime Wednesday. As noted above, St. Louis defeated New York 4-3 on Saturday. The Rangers fell 5-3 Columbus (yesterday) and face Philly tomorrow, after which it's Buffalo (Saturday), Washington (home-and-road next Monday and Wednesday), Tampa (last home game) and Carolina (road) to close out March. In April, New York faces the Devils, Islanders and Flyers, all on the road. The Islanders won, Hurricanes lost to the Oilers while the Blackhawks lost yesterday, so the Rangers are one point behind Carolina in 22nd, have tie-breaker over the Isles, who in 23rd, are three points north of Edmonton in 24th while Chicago has mailed it in and are in 25th tied point-wise with Edmonton but with one more game played.