Rangers vs. Blue Jackets: Rangers Blow Third Period Lead, Drop Second Consecutive Game in Overtime

The New York Rangers fell 4-3 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the team’s first game after the holiday break. New York lost in overtime just 31 seconds after it began, and fell to 15-14-7 on the season. The loss was the team’s second consecutive loss in overtime, as the Rangers lost vs. the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout in their final game before the holiday break.

1-0 Blue Jackets

Oliver Bjorkstrand (5) — Assists: Boone Jenner (10) and Cam Atkinson

The Blue Jackets struck near the halfway mark of the first period after Cam Atkinson intercepted a cross-ice pass by Kevin Hayes. The puck ended up in the Rangers zone and Columbus set up shop. Eventually the puck made its way to the stick of Boone Jenner who passed it across to Bjorkstrand who scored on a catch and shoot play. It was an awkward shot in which the Jackets’ winger fell to his knees, and he put enough for on it to give his team an early lead.

1-1

Jimmy Vesey (10) — Assists: Kevin Hayes (21) and Vladislav Namestnikov (11)

Hayes made up for his giveaway which resulted in the first goal by feeding Jimmy Vesey with a great pass. The play was started when Vlad stripped the puck from his friend Artemi Panarin, and he fed it up the ice to Hayes. Many people probably were urging Hayes to shoot, but his patience paid off and the Blueshirts were back in business with six minutes left in the period.

2-1 Blue Jackets

David Savard (2) — Assists: Oliver Bjorkstrand (6) and Scott Harrington (10)

Columbus went back in front late in the period when Savard blasted a shot past Henrik Lundqvist. It was a bit of a wonky shot that Hank should have stopped, but ultimately he did not. Savard’s goal was his second of his season, and the third and final goal of period one.

2-2

Chris Kreider (18) — Assists: Mats Zuccarello (10) and Kevin Hayes (22)

The Rangers evened things up for the second time when Kreider tipped home a shot on the power play fired on goal by Mats Zuccarello. The puck got to Hayes off a faceoff win, he went from point to point at the blue line and Zuccarello put it on goal from the top of the circle with Kreider standing directly in front of Joonas Korpisalo.

3-2 Rangers

Chris Kreider (19) — Assists: Brady Skjei (9) and Henrik Lundqvist (2)

The Rangers took their first and only lead of the night on Kreider’s second goal of the evening. Lundqvist left the puck behind the net for Skjei, and he took it on a coast-to-coast skate up the ice. After his pass was blocked, Kreider skated into the loose puck and shot it a few feet outside of the hash marks. Korpisalo was unable to react quick enough, and the puck went in glove side.

3-3

Zach Werenski (7) — Assists: Boone Jenner (11)

The Rangers thought they had scored an insurance goal when Mika Zibanejad sauced a brilliant pass to Ryan Strome who seemingly scored with 4:36 left in the game, but the goal was challenged and reversed for being offside.

With 2:23 left in the period, the Blue Jackets had an offensive zone faceoff, and Werenski skated into a faceoff won by Jenner and blasted it by Lundqvist to tie the game a 3.

4-3 Blue Jackets

Pierre-Luc Dubois (14) — Assists: Artemi Panarin (29) and Seth Jones (15)

Dubois scored the game-winning goal on a strong drive to the net in which he bested Hayes.  Both skaters were even in position near center ice, and Panarin fed Dubois a pass that he skated into and used to pick up speed to drive past Hayes. He shielded the puck going to the net, and deked back to his strong side and fired it off Lundqvist’s blocker and in for the seventh and final goal of the game.

Up Next

The Rangers play on Saturday in Nashville vs. the Predators at 8:00 P.M. ET, and on Monday, December 31 in St. Louis vs. the Blues at 8:00 P.M. ET.