Recap: Rangers Coast By Columbus, 4-0

After taking on Vladimir Tarasenko’s former team on Thursday, the Rangers traveled to Columbus to take on Artemiy Panarin’s alma mater. Or one of them, anymore. Not exactly the same impact, is it? Well, the season’s winding down, and the Blue Jackets are literally trying to lose. What do you want from me?

First Period:

The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Jimmy Vesey scored the first of the game. Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Motte combined to take the puck away from *squints* Joona Luoto? in the offensive zone. Goodrow moved it quickly to Motte, Motte found Vesey with a backhand pass, and Vesey snapped it past Michael Hutchinson. VGotte strikes again!

Chris Kreider scored the Rangers second, giving him goals in back-to-back games.  Patrick Kane took a shot on the rush that hit the skater directly in front of him, but K’Andre Miller grabbed the loose puck and continued the play with a royal road pass to Chris Kreider. Kreider had a wide-open net but hit the side, but luckily his good pal Mika Zibanejad picked him up. Also lucky that the Columbus defense treated him like he was wearing a Cloak of Invisibility. Anyway, he scored his 36^thgoal of the year.

Second Period:

The second period consisted of two teams, each with five skaters and one goalie at a time, attempting to score a “goal” by getting a frozen rubber puck into the opposing teams’ net using sticks. Neither team was successful in this endeavor.

Third Period:

The Rangers added to their lead when Niko Mikkola scored his first goal as a Blueshirt. It was also his first goal since January, 15…2022. Mikkola drove to the net as Zibanejad powered his way in close, and he finished off the cross-ice pass. Good on him for getting on the board. Honestly, that’s what this type of matchup should be about. Gets guys who are just guys goals. The assist was also Zibanejad’s 50^th, a mark he has now reached for two consecutive seasons.

Vincent Trocheck chipped in a late goal for good measure, sealing a 4-0 Rangers win.

. . .

Another easy win against an easy opponent. No one got hurt, Mikkola scored, and Igor Shesterkin notched his third shutout of the season. One more down, two more to go.

Next on the docket is Buffalo at home on Monday night. Buffalo could theoretically still be in the playoff hunt by then, which would make things far more interesting than the past week or so of games.