What a difference 24 hours makes.
The New York Rangers clashed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third and final meeting of the regular season between both teams. It's the Rangers' only trip to Nationwide Arena in 2021-22.
Joonas Korpisalo was back between the pipes for the first time since Jan. 21 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made 33 saves on 36 shots while Alexandar Georgiev made 14 saves on 18 shots for the Rangers.
Boone Jenner ties a career-high with three points as the Blue Jackets defeat the Rangers 5-3.
Response?
The one thing coach Brad Larsen, the media, the fans, and everyone else were wanting to see? How the Blue Jackets would respond in Thursday's contest against their Metropolitan Division rivals, the New York Rangers.
Everyone wanted to forget Wednesday's awful game against the Flames, and Zach Werenski was among those to lead the charge and say he could be better.
How about the rest of the team?
Artemi Panarin scored his 12th goal of the season on the Rangers' first shot of the game just 1:29 in. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren picked up assists. As part of a three-point night, Panarin now has a six-game point streak.
The Rangers scored their second goal on their third shot at just 4:44 thanks to Barclay Goodrow's ninth (Braden Schneider, Panarin).
Ugly start. Then things got interesting.
Gus Nyquist scored his 11th at 5:49 with assists by Patrik Laine and Boone Jenner. Jenner picked up his second point on the power play goal, redirecting Zack Werenski's shot for his 17th at 7:28. Oliver Bjorkstrand picked up the other assist as neither goaltender's save percentage was looking great early.
Gus' 11th pic.twitter.com/U9ljcwCrdd #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 28, 2022
Captain + PP = Team-leading 17th pic.twitter.com/N1nEqQjy1w #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 28, 2022
The Blue Jackets added two more goals in the second period and then fended off the Rangers' rally.
FINAL: Jackets respond from last night's loss with a 5-3 win over the Rangers. Huge nights for Jenner (career-best four points), Kuraly (two goals), Werenski (three assists) and Korpisalo (19 third-period saves). #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 28, 2022
Looks like the ENG assist has been taken off Boone Jenner's ledger tonight, but he still ties a career high with three points. Two goals, an assist, seven shot attempts, six hits. It was a Boone's Day.#CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 28, 2022
Rejuvenated Boone
We've mentioned it many times but Jenner is having some kind of resurgent season. His three-point, two-goal night extended his team lead in goals to 18.
Boone's 18th! pic.twitter.com/muOATksigk #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 28, 2022
The leaders of this club have to pave the way, especially in a response game following a bad night, and against a division rival whom they were 0-2 against coming in.
For the game he was +3 with four shots, one blocked shot, and led the game with six hits if you need them. Jenner skated 21:25.
Zach Werenski
Following Wednesday's game, Werenski talked about how he can be better as he was -4 on the night.
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Columbus Blue Jackets on 2022-01-26:#CBJ pic.twitter.com/8mKsTUyHrp
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) January 27, 2022
So like the team, the player was looking for a fresh start.
Werenski had three assists on the night, including on Sean Kuraly's seventh goal of the season at 6:18 of the second period, and also on the empty-net goal by Kuraly at 17:46 of the third. Werenski added one blocked shot in 21:39 and was +1, but did not have a shot on goal.
Sean Kuraly has been huge in year 1 with Columbus pic.twitter.com/EeBWa7wt8M #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 28, 2022
The Habs
The Blue Jackets play the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday at 7:00 pm ET at Bell Centre in Montreal. The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Canadiens 5-4 Thursday in Montreal.
