Recap: Cuylle Strikes Twice in Third Period of Rangers 4-3 Comeback Win in Columbus

One last outing before the two week break, the Rangers hit the road for an important divisional matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Coming off a brutal showing against the Penguins on home ice the night prior, the Rangers needed to go into break on a high note if they wanted any hope of moving forward in the final stretch of this season. Another strong third period with some help from a pair of goals from Will Cuylle helped get the job done as the Rangers now sit three points out of a playoff spot.

1st Period: 

A strong start for the Rangers as it only took them two minutes to get on the scoreboard. As a platform, we’ve all pretty much been on the same page regarding Arthur Kaliyev in how him being a healthy scratch for the last number of games was not warranted whatsoever. He was quick to further solidify that take as he entered the offensive zone with great speed, took the puck behind the net and beat Elvis Merzlikins on the wrap-around to make it a 1-0 game. Excellent individual effort. 

Also, a wise man saw that one coming. 

The Rangers continued to build off that strong start as they were out-shooting the Blue Jackets 8-3 through the first ten minutes of play. Soon after Reilly Smith nearly finished on a breakaway attempt, Jonathan Quick fumbled the puck behind his net at the other end of the ice that nearly tied the game back up but was eventually cleared out of harm's way. 

As things settled down, the Jackets took advantage of a scoring chance with about five and a half to go in the first. After failing to clear the puck out of their own end, Zach Werenski sent the puck over to a wide open Kent Johnson who had plenty of time and space to send a shot over a sliding Quick to tie the game up 1-1. 

Just 58 seconds later, another defensive zone collapse allowed for Columbus to walk into the zone with ease which set up a shot from former friend Jack Johnson to be redirected by Justin Danforth to take the lead, 2-1. 

Nearly giving up a third goal in the final minute or so of the opening period, the Rangers completely let this game get out of hand in just a span of 58 seconds. An otherwise great period spoiled as the Rangers took a one goal deficit into the first intermission. Shots after the opening twenty were 12-10 in favor of the Rangers. 

2nd Period:

A more mild start to the second period but the Rangers were slowly but surely spending more time in the offensive zone, generating a handful of shots on goal. Over six minutes in, Vincent Trocheck and Damon Severson were tangled up in the neutral zone exchanging a couple of words accompanied with the occasional shove but wouldn’t amount to much of anything aside from the first penalties of the game. Both players were given unsportsmanlike minors resulting in the teams skating 4-on-4 for the next two minutes. 

This played out in the Rangers favor as Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanread were moving the puck around quite well from the start. As Kreider one touched a puck back to Adam Fox at the point, Fox found Zibanejad at the doorstep for a one timer that went straight to the back of the net, tying the game up 2-2. Adam Fox picked up his 40th assist of the season on the play. 

Fox continuing to quickly climb the ranks of the Rangers history books. 

Following the Zibanejad goal, the majority of the second period could be described as a solid period of hockey. Both sides saw some chances, generated possession and played with decent pace. However with just under three minutes to go, another far too easy breakout for Columbus led to a tic-tac-toe passing play that ended with James van Riemsdyk essentially having a wide open net to tap the puck into, 3-2 Columbus. The Rangers continue to have major problems defending the rush and backchecking with purpose. 

And that about did it for the period as the Rangers had nothing to show for in those final two and half minutes as Columbus nearly extended the lead in the dying seconds of play. Practically every time that Mathieu Olivier line was on the ice it was a prime example of how the Rangers lack that fiery level of effort they played with. This was now the seventh consecutive game the Rangers trailed after two as they were just barely out-shooting Columbus after two 23-22. 

3rd Period:

Another good start to the period for the Rangers as just two minutes in, Will Cuylle tied the game up on a shot from far out as the Blue Jackets were on a delayed penalty call. Turns out good things happen when you shoot the puck!

Similar to their efforts against Pittsburgh the night prior, the Rangers had a slight wake up call in the third period as they continued to dominate play through the first half of the third. However, they were still making what is becoming typical Rangers mistakes as Mika Zibanejad had a great rush chance, ended up on a partial breakaway and passed the puck to nobody. Painful to watch.

Meanwhile, the fourth line continued to have a solid showing as Matt Rempe had another good chance on a cross crease pass from Sam Carrick that Merzlikins was able to shut down. The Rangers continued to put the pressure on as they out-shot Columbus 14-2 through the first three quarters of the third.

After Columbus hit the post with roughly two minutes to go, a good forecheck from Trocheck on the following shift created a turnover that Will Cuylle was quick to get a shot off from that snuck through Merzlikins for his second of the period to regain the Rangers lead now 4-3. Massive goal for a young winger that's becoming such an important player for this team.

Columbus would pull the goaltender once they gained possession on the following shift in attempts to get back in this one but the Rangers held them off and got a massive pair of points in another comeback win. While last night's loss still holds a looming dissapointment, there's no doubt about it that this was an essential game for the Rangers to win. Now three points out of a playoff spot, they can go into break on a high note and hopefully come back ready to finish the season strong, hopefully flipping the script once and for all.