Rangers demolished by Blue Jackets as they completely fumble crucial back-to-back
Join Post Sports+ for exciting member-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.The Rangers fumbled a pivotal weekend.It’s been over two months of scratching and clawing their way back into playoff contention, only for the Blueshirts to lose 7-3 to Columbus on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden as part of an 0-1-1 effort in a crucial back-to-back slate this weekend with major implications in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.Not once, but twice the Rangers whiffed on a chance to step into the top wild-card spot in the East, after they blew a two-goal lead in the third period in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Senators on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.Opportunities for considerable swings in the standings will only be fewer and farther between now.Columbus met this moment, picking up its first win over the Rangers this season to leapfrog the Senators into the first wild card.
These two teams will meet again for a final time this regular season in less than a week on March 15 back at the Garden.Adam Fantilli’s hat trick played an integral role in powering the Blue Jackets to victory, but the Rangers were wide-open defensively.The Rangers didn’t put up much resistance as Zach Werenski danced through their zone and dished to Justin Danforth for the first goal of the game less than six minutes in.The Rangers capped the Blue Jackets at just two shots on goal after that, however, until they were able to tie it up.Artemi Panarin got a stick on an Alexis Lafrenière shot, extending his goal-scoring streak to five games and tying the game up 1-1 with 29 seconds left in the period.Most of the action unfolded in a six-goal second period, with the Rangers falling behind by two, tying it up and then falling behind by two again by its end.Two goals from Fantilli in the span of 24 seconds exposed the Blueshirts and how prone they’ve been to defensive breakdowns this season.After scoring off the rush in the ...