Shesterkin shutout helps Rangers beat Blue Jackets 4-0

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Igor Shesterkin stopped all 20 photographs he confronted for his third shutout of the season and eleventh of his profession, and the New York Rangers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday night time.

Jimmy Vesey, Chris Kreider, Niko Mikkola and Vincent Trocheck scored, and Mika Zibanejad added two assists for the Rangers, who pulled two factors behind New Jersey for second place within the Metropolitan Division and home-ice benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs. The Devils performed at Boston on Saturday night time.

“It’s our last game on the road until the playoffs, so it was good to play well on the road,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant stated. “I thought tonight was just a good, solid effort. It wasn’t a high-intense game, but it was exactly what we needed.”

Michael Hutchinson stopped 24 photographs whereas showing in his one hundred and fiftieth NHL recreation for Columbus, which has misplaced six of its final seven video games and remained tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the fewest factors within the NHL with 56.

“They hold on to the puck – they make you defend a lot,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen stated. “It’s hard to create when they’re holding on and they won’t give it back. Three or four goals, we turned the puck over. You can’t do that against that group. They’re very dangerous.”

Despite being outshot 12-9, the primary interval belonged to the Rangers who had a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, courtesy of Vesey at 10:08 and Kreider 1:41 later.

PHOTOS: Shesterkin shutout helps Rangers beat Blue Jackets 4-0

After a scoreless second interval through which the Rangers outshot Columbus 11-2, Mikkola put New York up by three objectives 5 minutes into the third interval along with his first aim in 109 video games relationship again to Jan. 15, 2022.

Trocheck notched the sport’s closing aim with 20 seconds left.

“We’re trying to get ready for the playoffs and create good habits,” Zibanejad stated. “But also winning keeps the mood up, and that’s what we’re trying to do the next two games here.”

IN NET

Shesterkin, who has received has received 10 of his final 12 begins, has 37 wins on the yr, tied along with his former backup Alexandar Georgiev for the second most within the NHL.

BLANKED

Columbus was shut out for the eighth time this season and fourth at residence, together with two of its final three video games at Nationwide Arena.

PERFECTION

New York is the one workforce within the NHL to have an ideal document – 33-0-0 – when scoring 4 or extra objectives.

UP YOU GO

The Blue Jackets added defensemen Marcus Bjork and David Jiricek, and forwards Trey Fix-Wolansky and Joona Luoto, to the roster on emergency recall from AHL Cleveland.

RAISING KANE

Patrick Kane returned to the Rangers lineup after lacking two video games with a hip damage, notching an help on Mikkola’s aim.

STREAKING

With his assists, Zibanejad prolonged his level streak to 4 video games.

INJURY UPDATE

Eric Robinson left the sport within the second interval after colliding with Mikkola within the impartial zone and didn’t return. Mikkola was initially assessed a five-minute penalty on the play but it surely was rapidly overturned by the officers.

UP NEXT

New York: Hosts Buffalo on Monday night time.