Some line shuffling by coach Peter Laviolette and a dash of third-period heroics by forward Will Cuylle combined to help the New York Rangers earn a crucial road matchup on Saturday night, when they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3.
Though the win counts the same as any other two points, it feels all the more important due to the Rangers schedule. They won’t play again for 13 days; the victory against a Metropolitan Division rival helped prevent a two-game losing streak that would have undoubtedly left a bad taste for players and coaches during the break.
The 3-2 loss to the Sidney Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday was brutal for the Rangers. In an important stretch of the schedule before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the matchup against the mediocre and injury-ravaged Penguins was a great opportunity to pick up two points. The Rangers were riding high after back-to-back wins, playing more inspired hockey following the trade for J.T. Miller on Jan. 31.
However, a three-goal second period by the Penguins and 40 listless minutes by the Rangers were enough to result in a loss. Perhaps beneficially, New York hopped a plane to Columbus after the game to take on the Blue Jackets (26-22-8) – another team in the scramble for the Eastern Conference’s wild-card spots.
Laviolette switched up his lines ahead of the game. While the line of Miller, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad had success in the first three games following the trade, Zibanejad was shifted to the third line, centering for Chris Kreider on the left and Arthur Kaliyev on the right. The combination made an immediate impact, scoring on its first shift of the game.
Kaliyev, a healthy scratch in each of the previous four games, scored his third goal in 11 games with the Rangers at 1:56, with Zibanejad picking up an assist. However, the Blue Jackets scored twice in 58 seconds later in the period and took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
Zibanejad tied it 6:38 into the second period as the newly formed line struck again. However, James van Riemsdyk scored at 17:17 to send the Blue Jackets off the ice with a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
But the Rangers headed into the break on a high note thanks to another third-period come-from-behind victory — their third in seven days. Urho Vaakanainen got the equalizer at 1:57 before Cuylle scored the game-winner at 18:21.
The win leaves the Rangers three points out of a playoff berth heading into the 4 Nations break.
Will Cuylle comes out of slump in clutch 3rd period vs. Columbus
The game, and seemingly the season, felt like it was on the line for the Rangers in the third period on Saturday. Cuylle helped save the day, assisting on Vaakanainen’s goal before scoring the game-winner to give the Rangers the victory.
Cuylle had not scored a goal since Jan. 21 nor had an assist since Jan. 26. The left wing, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, was moved onto the second line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière for the game in Columbus.
Trailing by a goal in the third period, Cuylle picked up a steal while forechecking then flung a wrist shot on net. Vaakanainen got a piece of it to deflect it past Elvis Merzlikins, tying the score 3-3 at 1:57.
Another successful forecheck – this time by Trocheck – prompted the game-winner, late in the third period. Trocheck deflected a pass off the boards, and Cuylle slapped the loose puck into the net to give the Rangers the lead.
New York doesn’t play again until Feb. 22 against the Buffalo Sabres in the opener of a three-game road swing. That gives Laviolette plenty of time to think about his line combinations. Cuylle’s heroics on the second line give the coaching staff something to consider during the break.
Without Cuylle’s big third period, New York could have been six points out of a playoff spot when play resumes after the break. Instead, the Rangers sit just three points behind the Detroit Red Wings, who own the second wild card, and four behind the Ottawa Senators, holders of the first wild card – with a game in hand on Ottawa.
