COLUMBUS, Ohio - These may be Chris Kreider's final days wearing a New York Rangers uniform, but he's doing everything in his power to prevent that.
In what amounted to one of the biggest wins of the season — perhaps the biggest — Kreider netted a goal on a pass from Mika Zibanejad to give the Rangers a crucial 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday.
The goal broke a 1-1 tie with 3:11 to play, moments after a Rangers' power play had ended and Boone Jenner hit the post on a breakaway attempt that would have given the Blue Jackets the lead.
The Rangers entered the day trailing Columbus (and the Philadelphia Flyers) by nine points for the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. The win amounts to a four-point swing and moves them to within seven points of a playoff spot.
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Pavel Buchnevich got the Rangers on the board quickly, tipping in a slap shot from Jacob Trouba just 22 seconds into the game. It was the 13th goal of the season for Buchnevich and sixth in his last 10 games.
The Rangers were in control for most of the opening period, limiting the Blue Jackets to six shots on goal while generating 11 of their own. But the tide turned in the second.
Columbus turned up the pressure with 22 shots on goal in the period. The Blue Jackets also had a four-minute power play following a double penalty from Buchnevich, but the Rangers successfully killed it.
Alexandar Georgiev made some difficult saves to help the Rangers nearly escape the second period unscathed, but Columbus finally broke through with 1:08 remaining. Oliver Bjorkstrand pounced on a rebound from Gustav Nyquist and flicked a backhand over Georgiev's right shoulder to tie the score at 1.
Kreider came through in the third period to give the Rangers their first four-game winning streak of the season before Ryan Strome added an empty-netter.
Moving parts and injury updates
Prior to the game, Rangers coach David Quinn announced that defenseman Tony DeAngelo would sit out with an upper-body injury he sustained near the end of regulation in Thursday's 4-3 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild.
The Rangers recalled prospect Joey Keane from AHL Hartford for depth purposes, but the 20-year-old defenseman did not make his NHL debut. Instead, Marc Staal returned after missing one game due to illness and Brendan Smith remained in the lineup.
Quinn said he expects DeAngelo's injury "to be short-term."
Rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin didn't dress for the second straight game while he nurses an ankle injury. Quinn said Shesterkin is "much closer" than he was Thursday, making a return this week sound likely.
For the second consecutive night, the Rangers went with Georgiev in goal and Henrik Lundqvist as the backup.
Quinn has been up front about Shesterkin being the No. 1 goalie "right now" because of his strong play since his Jan. 7 debut. His decision to play Georgiev over Lundqvist in both games indicates that Georgiev is currently the No. 2 option.
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February 14, 2020 at 06:31PM
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Postgame analysis: Chris Kreider's late goal leads to season-best four game win streak - The Journal News / Lohud.com
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