In Columbus, the New York Rangers rediscovered their game after a miserable effort at against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
On Monday night, Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves, and backstopped the Rangers to a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Halak has won four straight after a less than admirable start to the season.
“He made some really big saves for us tonight,” Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow said. “In the last five minutes there were a few pucks that could have gone in that he didn’t let in. It was great to see.”
The Rangers improved to 25-13-7.
Kaapo Kakko had a pair of assists for New York.
“The first two periods we were pretty dominant, and I loved the way we played,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “They get that goal early in the third period, and it puts a little scare into you. We played well and we competed real hard tonight. I like the win.”
Halak had a shutout through periods, but Columbus scored on a power play early in the third period to make the score 3-1.
“Nobody had any gas,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “We had a day off, there is no excuse. We played like we got in at 4 a.m. I have no idea why. It blows my mind.
“If you’re not skating, you’re chasing, and when you’re chasing, you’re taking penalties. It’s pretty simple.”
Columbus dropped to 13-28-2.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a wicked shot from Mika Zibanejad that went in off the far post.
“I think everyone knows at this point what we have to do, (and that’s) what we do well, the things that makes us successful,” Zibanejad said. “We didn’t do a whole lot of that [against Montreal].”
Goodrow pushed the lead to 2-0 on a deflection at the top of the crease.
“We didn’t show up the first two periods for whatever reason,” Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. “We weren’t sharp and we weren’t playing to our strengths. We didn’t give ourselves a chance the first two periods.”
In the second period, Vitali Kravtsov redirected a pass from Filip Chytil for a 3-0 lead after two periods.
“That’s when we’re most dangerous, when we’re defending hard in the [defensive] zone and competing,” Goodrow said. “Ultimately it leads to scoring chances the other way.”
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Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves in the Jackets loss.
“I don’t think anyone enjoyed how we started,” Peeke said. “I don’t really have the words for it. You can’t go down to a team like that 3-0.
“Elvis was our best player tonight. He kept us in it all game long.”
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