COLUMBUS-- The Columbus Blue Jackets scored more than once in regulation for the first time in five games, but it turns out they didn't need to.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves for the Blue Jackets in a 2-0 win against the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena on Friday. Columbus (12-7-1) has won three straight after a four-game losing streak. WATCH: [All Rangers vs. Blue Jackets highlights] Its previous two wins were 2-1 in a shootout at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday and 2-1 in overtime at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Preserving a 1-0 lead, Bobrovsky made 15 saves in the third period for his second shutout of the season and 21st in the NHL. Bobrovsky has stopped 122 of 126 shots (.968) in the past four games. "He has a mental toughness about him that I've seen him develop in the last three years," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. Henrik Lundqvist made 40 saves for the Rangers (9-9-2), who have lost two in a row after winning six straight.
Zach Werenski scored in the second period and Artemi Panarin scored in the third. The Rangers had trouble sustaining possession and making it difficult for Bobrovsky to track the shots. "They don't turn the puck over much," Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "When you're playing against a team like that, you have make certain you're doing the same thing, making the right read going through the neutral zone. "When you are putting pucks behind them and put it in a spot where you can get a forecheck going, they have some mobile [defensemen]. In that second period we were creating one-and-dones in the offensive zone." Werenski made it 1-0 at 13:34 of the second period for his second game-winner in a row. The defenseman is second on the Blue Jackets with six goals (forward Josh Anderson has seven). The goal came seconds after Bobrovsky saved a Jimmy Vesey shot from the right face-off dot. The Blue Jackets turned the play up ice, and Boone Jenner entered the zone before dropping a pass to his left to Brandon Dubinsky. The former Rangers forward weaved through traffic in the left circle and passed across to Werenski for the one-timer.
"A great save by [Bobrovsky] and we broke out," Werenski said. "I tried to jump into the play and create some offense. I stopped, knowing if anything happened I have to get back. He put it on my tape and I shot it." Columbus outshot New York 19-9 in the second period. Panarin scored his fourth of the season at 7:14 of third to make it 2-0. It was the Blue Jackets' first goal on the power play in the past 19 tries. He has four goals this season, three against the Rangers. He took a pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand in the high slot and beat Lundqvist over his glove and under the crossbar. "We made a bad mistake on the penalty kill," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "The puck should have been down the ice. Instead of a one-shot game it's a two-shot game against a goaltender who obviously had his game tonight."
Goal of the game
Panarin's goal at 7:14 of the third period.
Save of the game
Bobrovsky's save on Brendan Smith at 12:33 of the first period.
Highlight of the game
Werenski's goal at 13:34 of the second period.
They said it
"He's definitely one of the best goalies. That's why you have to make it tough on him." -- Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky "Our second period was one of the best we've played this year. Lundqvist made some big saves. We just stayed with it." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella
Need to know
Werenski is the second Blue Jackets defenseman to score the game-winning goal in back-to-back games (Nikita Nikitin; March 1 and 3, 2012), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. … Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith, who was scratched the past six games, took Steven Kampfer's spot. … The Rangers were 0-for-3 on the power play for the second straight game. … Lundqvist made 40 saves in a game for the second time this season. He made 42 here on Oct. 13. … Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. He was replaced by Gabriel Carlsson. … Blue Jackets center Alex Wennberg (undisclosed) missed his second straight game.
What's next
Rangers: Host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVA Sports, MSG, NHL.TV) Blue Jackets: At the Buffalo Sabres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNP, MSG-B, FS-O, NHL.TV)
