Rangers Unable To Retort Panarin and Blue Jackets In 5-3 Loss

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Here is our recap of the Rangers 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Special Teams – All three Rangers goals came from the team’s special teams units. With the Blueshirts trailing 2-0 in the second period, Kevin Hayes pulled one back with a shorthanded goal. Hayes was the beneficiary of a Jesper Fast interception in the defensive zone and outlet pass, allowing Hayes to skate in all alone on Bobrovsky, sticking the puck between the legs of the Columbus netminder to pull the Rangers within one.

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The Rangers would score their final two tallies of the night on the man-advantage, and Chris Kreider was involved in both goals. On the second Rangers goal, Kreider perfectly eclipsed Bobrovsky as Mika Zibanejad lasered a wrist shot into the top corner of the net.

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While Kreider doesn’t get credited with a point on that goal, he did score the final goal of the night for the Blueshirts, redirecting Brady Skjei’s point shot between the legs of Bobrovsky. Kreider has been on a tear since coming back from his blood clot injury, with points in 11 of the 16 games since his return.

Henrik Lundqvist – If the four goals he allowed weren’t enough of a downer for the Rangers goaltender, getting upended certainly isn’t going to help his spirits. With defenseman John Gilmour and Columbus forward Matt Calvert chasing a loose puck, Lundqvist came out to play the puck out above the hash marks. Both skaters lost their edges and went down, with Gilmour appearing to be the one to flip his goaltender. It was certainly a scary sight to see, but Lundqvist was able to finish the game. We’ll see what happens over the coming days, but there is no reason for the Rangers to rush their veteran goaltender back into action. If he has some lingering pain, let Georgiev play. It was highly unlikely that Henrik would’ve gotten 30 wins this season, ending the streak he has held since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. More important than the streak is the health of the 36-year-old goalie, who will go down as one of the game’s greats.

Next Game: The Blueshirts head off to the City of Brotherly Love on Thursday night to face the Flyers. Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

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