Rangers overmatched by Blue Jackets in yet another disappointing defeat

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Special Teams Showdown

The special teams action kicked off on Thursday night.

With numerous penalties, both the Rangers and Blue Jackets had ample power play opportunities. Still, Columbus came out on top with a 6-3 victory, securing their spot in the playoffs and extending their winning streak to 11 games.

Some questionable calls by the referees may have added to the drama.

One penalty that raised eyebrows was Ty Cartier’s high-stick call, which seemed a bit excessive, especially since it’s akin to getting a puck to the face.

That said, the Rangers have struggled with discipline recently.

After the game, Coach Mike Sullivan commented, “Tough games are difficult for referees to defend.” He added that the stick situation is tricky. “It happens fast, and they have to make a call. But I get it; we need to keep our sticks down. We take unnecessary penalties and need to get better at overall discipline.”

This year, entering Thursday’s match, the Rangers had the lowest penalty kill percentage in the NHL at 62.5.

It wasn’t surprising when Vladislav Gavrikov was penalized for hooking just 45 seconds into the game.

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stepped up, making seven saves during the Blue Jackets’ power play, bringing his total to 31 for the night, illustrating the team’s struggles when short-handed.

A “too many men on the ice” penalty against the Rangers allowed the Blue Jackets to return to the power play midway through the second period. Adam Fantilli netted one of his two goals, with the second one coming into an empty net, leaving Columbus with one goal on the man advantage and a solid lead.

Not long into the third period, the Rangers closed the gap to one point. Alexis Lafreniere tipped in an Adam Fox shot to make it 4-3, but Columbus quickly responded. During a 4-on-4 situation, Damon Severson scored from a rebound, extending their lead once more.

Adam Fox reflected, “It was a slow start with penalties. Shesty made some major saves, but we could definitely improve on special teams. We scored, sure, but we didn’t build momentum. We’ve got to be better at challenging them.”

Meanwhile, rookie Noah Laba and veteran Urho Vaakanainen sat out due to injuries sustained in the previous game against the Devils. They remained in New York for further evaluations, while Connor McKee made his season debut, joining the Rangers lineup for the first time since December 2024.

Following the power play goal, Lafreniere hit the 20-goal mark for the second time in six seasons with the Rangers.

Coach Sullivan praised Rugger’s performance, mentioning, “He’s been solid, attacking the net, scoring right where it counts, whether on the power play or during even strength.”