While your friendly neighborhood freelance writer was out losing beer league games, the Columbus Blue Jackets took over Madison Square Garden, with a crucial 7-3 win over the New York Rangers. Here’s what happened.
1st Period
The Jackets came into Madison Square Garden and played their game, controlling the pace of play and pressuring Jonathan Quick. About six minutes in, they were rewarded, with Zach Werenski and Justin Danforth combining for a filthy opening goal. Z’s assist also put him in sole possession of most assists in CBJ history.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Justin Danforth from Zach Werenski – 5:56 1st Period
A bit after the halfway point of the period, Kent Johnson would take a penalty for interference on Brett Berard. It was a questionable call, as a player opened the door from the bench as Berard was hit, but thems the breaks. The Jackets were able to kill it off and regain control. However, with under 30 seconds left in the period, Artemi Panarin would make things even, tipping in Alex Lafreniere’s shot following a faceoff.
RANGERS GOAL – Artemi Panarin from Alex Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck – 19:31 1st Period
To add insult to injury, Denton Mateychuk would also take a penalty before the period closed, putting the Rangers back on the powerplay.
2nd Period
The Jackets kept pressuring, and started pooring on the offense at the 3:00 mark. Adam Fantilli posted two goals in quick succession, first sniping it past Quick on the rush, then doing what the top line does best; cleaning up after forcing a turnover. The two goals in 26 seconds are the second fastest consecutive goals by the same player in CBJ history.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Adam Fantilli from Dmitri Vornkov – 3:07 2nd Period
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Adam Fantilli (2) from Dmitri Vornkov – 3:33 2nd Period
They almost made it three straight, as Mattieu Olivier had a look at a wide open net that flipped over his stick. However, minutes later, the Blue Jackets had the opportunity to send the dagger, after Will Cuylle was nabbed for holding Ivan Provorov. Time for the powerplay, featuring the red hot Fantilli, to get to work and finish this.
RANGERS SHORTHANDED GOAL – Braden Schneider from Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad – 6:54 2nd Period
RANGERS SHORTHANDED GOAL – Chris Kreider from Mika Zibanejad – 7:36 2nd Period
Or you could do that.
Back-to-back inexcusable defensive collapses against the best shorthanded team in the league. The Rangers obviously took advantage of the momentum swing, pressuring the Jackets through the back half of the period. Time to get to the end of the period, regroup during intermission, and then come out strong for the third.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Mattieu Olivier from Zach Werenski and Dante Fabbro – 17:03 2nd Period
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Dante Fabbro from Sean Kuraly and James van Riemsdyk – 18:47 2nd Period
Or you could do that. Great redirect from Olivier there off a great feed from Werenski, and a seeing-eye point shot from Dante Fabbro. Love to see it.
Third Period
Ivan Provorov took a delay of game penalty six minutes in, but that resulted in a Rangers powerplay so they had no chance. After finishing a how-hum first half of the period, the Jackets got the backbreaker. Olivier was able to get a shot after driving the net, with the rebound popping straight up. While trying to bat it out of mid-air, Rangers defenseman Zac Jones technically accomplished that. He just happened to bat it into his own net. We’ll take it!
And literally as I wrote that and went back to get the time and assists, it looks like it’s been changed to Kent Johnson’s goal. He was right behind Jones and had swung at it himself.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Kent Johnson from Mattieu Olivier and Boone Jenner – 10:17 3rd Period
Shortly after, Fantilli kicked the extra point for his second hat trick as a road player against an Original 6 opponent in the most populous city of that team’s respective country of the season. Hooray weird coincidences! Another masterclass from the top line here.
BLUE JACKETS HAT TRICK GOAL – Adam Fantilli (3) from Kirill Marchenko and Damon Severson – 11:51 3rd Period
At the 12:41 mark, all hell broke loose. Newly acquired forward Luke Kunin crosschecked Vincent Trocheck into the boards, and he and Will Borgen had a fight about it. The end result: boarding, roughing, and fighting against Kunin; fighting, instigating, and a misconduct against Borgen; and a Rangers powerplay. New York chose to pull their goalie for the powerplay to get a 6-on-4 advantage. The Jackets were able to kill it off, finish out the game, and maintain their hold on WC1 and stay within striking range of the New Jersey Devils for third in the Metro.