In Columbus, Jimmy Vesey g and Chris Kreider scored in the first period for the New York Rangers to give them a 2-0 lead on Saturday.
That was more than enough.
“It was a good hockey game. We played pretty well, and good, solid defensively,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “It’s our last game on the road until the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs, so it was good to play well on the road.
“I thought tonight was just a good solid effort. It wasn’t a high intense game, but it was exactly what we needed.”
Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves for his third shutout of the campaign in a 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets.
“The way he plays and gives us a chance to win every night, it’s nice to help him out — although it was stressful the last few minutes,” Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad said.
The Rangers improved to 47-21-12.
“We played pretty well tonight,” New York’s Barclay Goodrow said. “There’s definitely another level we need to get to come [the playoffs]. You need to maintain good habits.”
Columbus dropped to 24-47-8.
“Another good team,” Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau said. “They played well defensively tonight. They had a couple of good looks and then they have an excellent goalie behind them as well. When we get opportunities, we have to try to bear down and score, and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Niko Mikkola scored his first goal for the Rangers, and season. It was also his first in more than a year.
“I was relieved,” Mikkola said. “The first of the season too and we won. A great pass by Mika. I think I owe him a couple of beers.”
Vincent Trocheck scored with less than 30 seconds left on the game clock, after the Blue Jackets had given up the puck in their own zone, for the 4-0 final.
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Michael Hutchinson made 24 saves in the Blue Jackets loss.
“They hold onto the puck. They make you defend a lot,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “It’s hard to create when they’re holding on and they won’t give it back.”
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