The season series is tied at one.
Barclay Goodrow had a goal and an assist to lead the New York Rangers past the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1, on Monday at Nationwide Arena.
Mika Zibanejad and Vitali Kravtsov also scored for the Rangers.
Kaapo Kakko had two assists. Adam Fox, K'Andre Mille, and Filip Chytil picked up assists. Fox has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in seven of his previous eight games.
Andrew Peeke scored for Columbus. Gus Nyquist and Jack Roslvoc had assists. Roslovic moves into second on the team with 23 points.
Jaroslav Halak won his fourth straight start and made 24 saves while Elvis Merzlikins had 30 stops.
Chris Kreider (upper body) missed his third straight game for the Rangers. He entered the day tied with Zibanejad for the Rangers' goals lead with 19.
Listless
The Blue Jackets missed their leader when Boone Jenner missed 11 games and the club won just two games in that span without the captain.
After the way the team performed in Jenner's return on Saturday in the 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, it felt like maybe some offensive rhythm could continue. Even though Jenner didn't register a point on Saturday, he led all forwards in ice time (19:17) and had three shots, one blocked shot, two hits, and one takeaway. He also led the way in the face-off circle (13-of-21, 61.9%).
In his second game back from injury and his first game at Nationwide Arena in a month, neither Jenner nor the Blue Jackets could replicate any of the offensive success that the team had on Saturday.
In Monday's game, Patrik Laine and Gus Nyquist co-led the Jackets with two shots apiece following two periods as the club was being walloped on the ice by the Rangers in shots (26-12), shot attempts (55-23), and on the scoreboard down 3-0.
Two periods done here in Columbus, #CBJ down 3-0. Shots on goal are 26-12. Shot attempts are 55-23. Jackets just not on the same page at all tonight.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 17, 2023
For the game, Jenner had one shot, two hits, and one takeaway in 19:26. Johnny Gaudreau led Blue Jackets forwards with 21:21 ice time. He had two shots and one blocked shot. Laine, Nyquist, and Peeke co-led the Jackets with four shots. Vladislav Gavrikov had six blocked shots and Erik Gudbranson had five.
Rangers' Goals By Strength
The Rangers came into play 20th in the league with 90 goals at 5v5. New York hadn't scored a 5v5 goal since Jan. 10 against the Minnesota Wild before Kravtsov's goal at 11:47 of the second period on Monday broke the spell.
Regardless, they have been able to score goals in other ways.
In Monday's win, Zinbanejad scored the Rangers' third 4v4 goal on the season at 12:39 in the first period which moves them into the top upper echelon of the league in that category.
The Rangers' power play came in 15th in the league (22.1%). They executed on one of three first-period chances at 19:02 of the opening period when Goodrow's power-play goal at 19:02 gave the team a 2-0 lead. They now have 28 goals when 5v4 which moves them into a tie for 13th with the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames.
The Blue Jackets penalty kill was 4-for-5 while the Rangers were 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Andrew Peeke Breaks The Shutout
On Saturday, the Blue Jackets entered the third period up 3-0 before Detroit crept back in it. That was Monday's script on the other end of the stick for Columbus who came in down 3-0. Peeke's fourth goal of the season came while 4v4 at 1:21 of the third period.
Peeke breaks the shutout. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/cgxrel80HL
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) January 17, 2023
Though Columbus had a better third period as they outshot the Rangers, 13-7, in the final frame, it was too little too late. In addition to the goal and four shots, Peeke had two blocked shots and one hit in 22:13. The Rangers had the edge in shot attempts, 71-44 in all situations.
Make-Up Game
The Blue Jackets head to Nashville to face the Predators on Jan. 17 for a make-up game at 8:00 pm ET. The Nov. 26 game was postponed due to a water main break at Bridgestone Arena. Columbus took the first meeting, 5-3, at Nationwide Arena on Oct. 20. Nashville beat the Flames tonight at Bridgestone, 2-1.
