New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider (20) celebrates with Jimmy Vesey (26) and Artemi Panarin (10) after scoring an empty-net goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in New York. The Rangers won 4-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — Artemi Panarin had two goals and an assist, Igor Shesterkin stopped 30 shots and the New York Rangers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist and Adam Fox also scored as the Rangers won their sixth-straight home game and 11th in the last 12 games. New York, first in the Eastern Conference, improved to 12-2-1 in the last 15 games — three nights after having a 10-game winning streak snapped at Columbus on Sunday.
Kreider and Panarin scored empty-netters 41 seconds apart in the final minute. Kreider got his 30th – the third-straight season the veteran forward has achieved that milestone – and Panarin increased his career-best total to 35.
New York has 83 points, tied with Vancouver atop the NHL standings though the Canucks have played one more game.
“It’s a great job by the guys,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “We still have work to do. You get to the last quarter before the playoffs and you have to play some hockey that’s good hockey. I think our guys have done that.”
Panarin’s first goal of the night was the 250th of his career, which included two seasons with the Blue Jackets before he signed a seven-year free-agent contract with the Rangers in July 2019.
Cole Sillinger scored for the Blue Jackets and Elvis Merzlikins finished with 26 saves. Columbus, last in the East, has lost five of its last eight. The Blue Jackets had a number of opportunities to tie the contest in the waning minutes but couldn’t beat Shesterkin.
“We played a good game. The scoring chances were pretty much even,” Columbus coach Pascal Vincent said. ”The guys battled to the end.”
After a…
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