Recap: Third Period Comeback Insufficient in Rangers 5-4 Overtime Loss to Blue Jackets

Almost 75% of the way through the regular season, the New York Rangers hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets for game 60 of the season in their second of three meetings this season. With an important pair of points up for grabs, Columbus looked to bounce back after a pair of losses while the Rangers looked to build off their shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins over the weekend. On the Rangers side of the ice, it would be the same lineup as the weekend save for Conor Sheary bumping up to the third line, pushing Brendan Brisson down to the fourth. Igor Shesterkin would get the start in net. 

First Period

After a relatively back-and-forth start to the game, the Rangers were at one point in time, leading in the shots on goal count 3-1. They had a couple of decent looks early on, including a grade-A chance for Mika Zibanejad right in the slot. Shortly after which, Kirill Marchenko led the rush the other way and let a shot go that deflected off an unbothered Adam Fantilli in front of the net to sneak through Shesterkin, making it a 1-0 game six minutes into play. 

This was around where things started to take quite the turn as Columbus was generating more offense and the Rangers were appearing less interested in playing hockey. With just over five minutes to go in the opening period, the Rangers were assessed a bench minor which was labelled too-many men but in reality, was a result of Mike Sullivan—and the Rangers’ bench— complaining about a non-call when Columbus had too many men on the ice. 

It took Columbus less than a minute to convert on the power play as a Marchenko one timer deflected off the stick of Matthew Robertson to find the back of the net, extending their lead to 2-0. 

For a game that didn’t get off to a bad start by any means, it quickly went south as the Rangers were trailing by two, being out-shot 10-4 and being significantly out-chanced by the Blue Jackets. Columbus was credited with five high danger chances and only had an expected goals-for count of 1.18. The Rangers on the other hand, had zero high danger chances and an expected goals-for count of 0.16. You don’t need to be a huge analytics person to know that’s not great.   

Second Period

The Rangers got an early power play chance in the second period as Boone Jenner tripped Robertson up below the goal line in the defensive zone. After giving up a shorthanded odd-man rush, the Rangers got some puck luck as Zibanejad fumbled a shot at the point. That turned into an unintentional pass to Vincent Trocheck who dished it over to J.T. Miller for a one timer which found the back of the net, bringing them within a goal. 

Of course, the Blue Jackets opted to challenge the play as Alexis Lafrenière was a little too close for comfort to Elvis Merzlikins in Columbus’ eyes. Upon review, it was ruled goaltender interference as Lafrenière’s elbow made the slightest contact with Merzlikins mask just before the goal. 

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Sean Monahan went the other way with the puck on the following shift and snuck a shot through Shesterkin to make it a 3-0 game with a shorthanded goal. 

With eight minutes to go in the period, Mathieu Olivier caught a pass and entered the zone with Robertson caught cheating the gap a bit, flew by everyone and snuck a shot through Shesterkin to make it 4-0. 

After two periods of hockey, the Rangers were being out-shot 19-15 and looked as lifeless as they have at any point this season.

Third Period

The Rangers decided to show up for the third period as it took them less than a minute to break the goose egg. Lafrenière did a good job of digging the puck out and setting up Vladislav Gavrikov in front of the net as he quickly fired the puck home to put them on the board, 4-1.

Just 24 seconds later, Gabe Perreault took advantage off a misplay from Denton Mateychuk which resulted in his shot finding the back of the net to make it a 4-2 game.

This gave the Rangers some life and throughout the first half of the closing period, they were beginning to generate more zone time and overall intensity. Closer to the midway mark, Will Cuylle delivered a hit from behind on Ivan Provorov which resulted in a scrum along the boards but no penalties to either side.

With about seven minutes to go, Miller was taken down in front of Columbus' net which resulted in a delayed penalty call. With a 6-on-5 advantage, the Rangers kept pressing and Perreault managed to bank a loose puck in off the skate of Will Borgen to bring them within one, 4-3.

That duo would connect again just about two minutes later. A great rush from Will Borgen created a chance with Perreault pressing towards the net and a nice pass set Perreault up perfectly for his second of the night, game tied 4-4.

It was a whole new game now as the Rangers were absolutely buzzing for the first time in what feels like forever. Against all odds, the Rangers would force this one to overtime despite being down 4-0 through forty minutes of play heading into the third.

Overtime

Perreault had the chance to complete the hat-trick for the win off the rush in overtime but as play went the other way, Marchenko picked up his second of the night off a rush of his own. Trocheck got caught out of position which resulted in not enough Rangers getting back and the shot from Marchenko beat Shesterkin who by all means, didn't have the best of nights to win the game, 5-4.

The Rangers pick up the loser point by forcing the game to overtime but wouldn't pull off the full comeback. They'll be back at it at the Garden Thursday Night as they'll host a Toronto Maple Leafs team going through similar struggles.