Adam Fantilli scored twice, surpassing 20 goals, and the host Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 on Thursday night.
Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist and Isac Lundestrom, Conor Garland and defenseman Damon Severson also had goals for the Blue Jackets, who stretched their point streak to 11 games (7-0-4). Defenseman Zach Werenski had three assists and Jet Greaves stopped 22 shots.
Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and an assist each and Vincent Trocheck also scored for the Rangers, who lost their third straight. Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves.
Lafreniere’s power-play goal 50 seconds into the third period pulled New York to within 4-3. He tipped in defenseman Adam Fox’s shot for Lafreniere’s 20th goal.
Severson made it 5-3 at 6:12 of the third by converting a rebound off the rush.
Fantilli’s second goal came into an empty net with 2:54 left.
Jenner broke a 2-2 tie 7:04 into the second period by putting in his own rebound. Fantilli’s power-play goal with 4:35 left in the middle period made it 4-2. He got his 20th goal this season by tipping in Werenski’s shot.
Zibanejad tied it 2-2, 4:44 into the second with a shot from above the left circle off the rush.
Columbus scored twice in the last 5:30 of the first period to take a 2-1 lead.
Lundestrom tied it 1-1 with 5:27 left in the opening period with a shot from the top inside edge of the right circle. Garland was credited with a goal with 59 seconds left in the first when his shot from the right circle was deflected into the air by New York defenseman Matthew Robertson. The fluttering puck bounced in off the head of Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider in front of the net.
It was Garland’s fifth goal in seven games with the Blue Jackets since he was traded from the Vancouver Canucks.
Trocheck gave New York a 1-0 lead 5:41 into the game with a short-handed breakaway goal.
New York defenseman Urho Vaakanainen did not play because of an upper-body injury and Rangers forward Noah Laba was out with a lower-body injury.
–Field Level Media
