Kent Johnson's OT goal lifts Blue Jackets past Rangers 1-0
Jet Greaves made 29 saves for his fifth career shutout as Columbus snapped a two-game slide; Dylan Garand was strong in defeat for New York.
Kent Johnson scored with 1:33 remaining in overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, the AP reported. Jet Greaves made 29 saves for his fifth career shutout, and the Blue Jackets snapped a two-game slide.
The defeat extended the Rangers' losing streak to two games, following a 7-1 collapse against the New Jersey Devils in their previous outing. According to the AP, New York (6-3-1) had dropped its past two games. Forever Blueshirts noted that each of the team's first three losses this season came on the road.
The winning play began when Charlie Coyle carried the puck into the offensive zone and passed to Zach Werenski near the left faceoff circle. Werenski found Johnson in the slot, and Johnson fired a wrist shot past Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand for his team-leading fourth goal of the season, the AP reported.
The assist gave Werenski his 22nd career overtime point, moving him past Seth Jones for the most in Blue Jackets franchise history with seven goals and 15 assists. It was only the fourth time Columbus had won 1-0 in overtime, the previous occasion coming against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 4, 2020.
Greaves, who stopped 29 shots, recorded his first shutout since Feb. 4 last season against Chicago. Garand made 28 saves for New York, a strong response after he was pulled in the second period of the Devils loss having conceded four goals on 13 shots. Rangers defenceman Adam Fox had said before the game that Garand is mentally tough and could bounce back.
The Rangers had three power-play opportunities in the third period but failed to convert, the AP reported. New York's Alexis Lafrenière saw his six-game point streak snapped; he had tallied six goals and five assists during that run, matching a similar streak from 2021-22.
What happens next
The Rangers host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, while the Blue Jackets travel to face the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, according to the AP.
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Sources and context
- Rangers lose 1-0 in OT on road against Columbus Blue Jacketsyahoo.com
- Rangers lines, notes, how to watch Metro clash against Blue Jacketsforeverblueshirts.com
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