RANGERS BLANKED
Questionable penalty buries Blueshirts as Hank makes 40 saves
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Rangers didn’t play nearly well enough to win this one Friday night, not making life hard enough on Sergei Bobrovsky in getting shut out for the first time this season, 2-0, while Henrik Lundqvist tied his season-high with 40 saves — the same number he had here about a month ago in a loss.
But this game was still within the Rangers’ reach in the third period, trailing by just one when Pavel Buchnevich was assessed a questionable interference penalty at 6:55 of the third. Kevin Hayes then made a terrible play on the ensuing Columbus power play by taking way too long to clear the puck and ultimately having his clearance attempt blocked before Artemi Panarin scored seconds later to double the Blue Jackets’ lead at 7:14.
“In my estimation, my opinion, Buchy, that’s his ice,” Alain Vigneault said of the call against Buchnevich. “The other guy ran into him. I’m not sure why there was a penalty. That’s my opinion, but I guess the referee didn’t see it the same way.”
The Rangers (9-9-2,) who’ve lost two straight after a six-game win streak, initially fell behind during a one-sided second period in Columbus’ favor when Zach Werenski scored at 13:34. Lundqvist made 32 saves on 33 shots through two periods.
Bobrovsky had 36 saves in the shutout but it wasn’t an overly difficult night for him. There were a lot of clear-sighted shots as the Rangers didn’t generate enough traffic in front. The Blueshirts lacked a forecheck after the first period, which helped allow Columbus’ defensemen to jump up. The Ranger power play, which had been firing on all cylinders before this road trip, came up with a second straight dud, having enough trouble just gaining the zone. They had zero shots on goal and only one attempt, a blocked shot, on a man-advantage early in the third to finish 0-for-3.
And then came the suspect call and the killer mistake.
“It’s just tough when we give up the second goal,” said Lundqvist, who also made 40 saves on 42 shots in a 3-1 loss here on Oct. 13. “You feel like that’s gonna be a tough one to turn around. As long as it’s a one-goal game you never know.”
Brendan Smith played after being a healthy scratch the previous six games and had an eventful first period, drawing a penalty, committing one of his own and was unable to convert on two chances at the right post at 12:34. Vigneault said he felt Smith had a “good game” and will remain in the lineup.
Before the game, Vigneault said he felt his team was on the right track, having played quality hockey over the previous couple of weeks. Now some defensive issues have crept back up in two games the Rangers admitted they didn’t deserve to win. Four of their next five are at the Garden beginning Sunday against Ottawa.
“I don’t think it’s a huge downer for our team,” Marc Staal said, “but we’ve got to respond here at home.”