Blue Jackets clinch playoff berth, recover against Rangers

NEW YORK --The Columbus Blue Jackets clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight season after recovering for a 3-2 shootout win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

"I think it's just relief knowing that you're giving yourself a chance to play on and to go for the Stanley Cup," Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said. "That's why we start the year, another opportunity."
The Blue Jackets (46-31-4), who have won six of their past seven games, are one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Each team has one game remaining.
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Rangers highlights]
The Blue Jackets will finish as the first wild card if they win at the Ottawa Senators and the Hurricanes lose in any fashion at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Columbus will also get the first wild card if it gets one point against the Senators and Carolina loses in regulation to the Flyers.
The team that finishes in the first wild card will play the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference First Round and the second wild card will play the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the Presidents' Trophy.
"No matter who we play, they're good teams and so are we," Foligno said. "If we can get to our game, it's going to make it hard on anyone."
Artemi Panarin scored in the third period and got the lone goal in the second round of the shootout, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves.

Alexandar Georgiev made 39 saves for the Rangers (31-36-14), who were already eliminated from playoff contention.
Pavel Buchnevich tied it 2-2 on a shot that went in off the inside of Bobrovsky's left pad with seven seconds remaining in regulation and Georgiev pulled for the extra skater. The Situation Room initiated a review to determine if there was goaltender interference on the play, but the call was upheld after a video review.
"It's pretty cool when you tie the game up with [seven] seconds to go," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "It would have been nice to win in overtime or the shootout, but it's nice for our guys to have that feeling at least, that one feeling in the last home game, to feel the emotion of our crowd and what could be if we have the success we certainly strive to have and what we think we're capable of moving forward."

Chris Kreider gave New York a 1-0 lead at 1:47 of the first period, scoring off a 2-on-1 with Mika Zibanejad.
Ryan Dzingel scored 2:25 into the third period to tie it 1-1 with a one-timer off a pass from Foligno on a 3-on-1.
Panarin gave Columbus a 2-1 lead with 5:33 left in the third period, splitting two Rangers players before beating Georgiev top shelf.
"No disrespect, [Georgiev] is a great goalie and he's played well for them, but you get that many Grade As or opportunities, you're going to put one or two past him," Foligno said. "We knew it was just a matter of time, so it was nice to get those two in the third."
Bobrovsky saved the only shot he faced in overtime and the three attempts he faced in the shootout, clinching the win and a playoff berth with a save on Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo in the third round.
"I'd rather take a 2-1 win," Bobrovsky said. "That's safe plus medicine for the heart, but it is what it is. We get it done in the shootout and we are happy."

They said it

"I'm proud of the guys. Listen, there's been [stuff] running around our team all year long, right from the get go as far as guys leaving, you guys know the story, and there's been a lot of things that have happened within that room. I think the team has held together strong. I think it's been a very honest locker room. When things come up, we air it out right away so it doesn't sit in the room. So I'm proud of them, not just tonight and finding a way to win in a crazy game, but just how they've handled themselves throughout the year." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella

"Trying to ruin their season was obviously a big motivation. I have a couple buddies on the other side there. We tried to ruin it. Couldn't really get it done. Just wish them good luck in the playoffs." -- Rangers center Mika Zibanejad

Need to know

Kreider's goal was his 28th of the season, tying his NHL career high he set in 2016-17. … Blue Jackets forward Alexandre Texier had three shots in 11:49 of ice time in his NHL debut after being recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on Thursday. … Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard had two assists.

What's next

Blue Jackets:At the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN360, CITY, TVAS2, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Rangers: At the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, MSG, NHL.TV)