Rangers Top Blue Jackets 5-3 With Power-Play Goals, Stretch Win Streak To Four

The New York Rangers netted three power-play goals in the third period to secure a 5-3 home victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

Rangers vs. Blue Jackets Game Score

Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich each scored a power-play goal in the third to extend the Rangers’ (7-7-2) win streak to four after a brutal start to the season.

Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves for the hosts. Michael Grabner had two goals, and Mika Zibanejad compiled a career-high three assists. Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 17 points this season.

“We’ve been talking about winning puck battles and outworking the opponent on the power play, and we weren’t very happy with our power play in the first two periods (0-for-2),” Zibanejad said. “We talked about getting those big goals for the power play, and I think we were able to do that. We have to find a way to keep going.”

New York entered the game 10th in the NHL on the power play (21.1 percent), yet they finished 3-for-5 with the man-advantage on Monday.

“Our guys continue to do what they’ve been doing since Day One; they keep playing and there’s no doubt that the difference in the third period was our power play,” Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. “Our power play came up and made some big plays right off the bat and we were able to get the lead and keep the lead.”

Artemi Panarin, Josh Anderson and Oliver Bjorkstrand scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves for Columbus (9-5-1).

“We didn’t deserve to win,” said Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, a former Rangers coach.

Columbus led 2-0 on goals by Panarin and Anderson in the second. Panarin scored 38 seconds into the period.

Kreider tied it 3-3 by netting a power-play goal from the slot 9:40 into the final period. Buchnevich took the initial shot from the point that deflected onto Kreider’s stick. The score came three seconds after Zac Dalpe was penalized for elbowing.

Rangers center Boo Nieves missed his second straight game with an illness.

The Blue Jackets (9-5-1) next host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, while the Rangers will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 06: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 6, 2017 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Blue Jackets 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)