Panarin, Kreider help Rangers surge past Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS -- Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider each scored twice for the New York Rangers in a 5-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Jacob Trouba had a goal and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the Rangers (8-3-3) before leaving with an injury at 13:15 of the third period.
Shesterkin was injured when Alexandre Texier scored to pull Columbus within 5-3. Texier was checked by New York defenseman Patrik Nemeth and fell into Shesterkin.
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said Shesterkin entered the concussion protocol but was cleared.
"He was ready to go back in," Gallant said.
Alexandar Georgiev replaced Shesterkin and made two saves.
Elvis Merzlikins made 36 saves for the Blue Jackets (7-5-0), who have lost two straight.
"No need to panic. We have to learn from it," Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. "All the good things we have done, we just have to keep doing them."

Jakub Voracek's power-play goal from the top of the slot put Columbus ahead 1-0 at 8:59 of the first period. It was his first goal of the season in his 12th game.
Panarin tied it 1-1 at 17:29 from the left face-off circle off a cross-ice pass by Adam Fox. Merzlikins dived to his right and got his stick on the shot, but the puck continued across the line.
Panarin entered the game with two goals and said earlier in the week he needed to shoot more. The former Blue Jackets forward had 10 shot attempts and six shots on goal.
"Maybe because Columbus, old team, I tried to score," he said. "That's why I shoot. … The situation I'm in now makes me hungry."
Eric Robinson gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 6:56 of the second period with a shot from the left face-off circle that went off the right post.
Kreider tied it 2-2 with a redirection of a Trouba pass out of the right corner at 7:39.
"The first period was a bit sloppy," Gallant said. "It looked like we had four days off (since a 4-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Monday). We didn't have any jump, but after that I thought we played the exact way I wanted us to play.
"After they scored that second goal, I thought we were real good the rest of the night."
Panarin was alone in the slot to put the Rangers ahead 3-2 at 8:15, and Trouba extended the lead to 4-2 at 8:42, giving New York three goals in 1:03. They were the quickest three goals by the Rangers in a regular-season game since they scored three in 1:00 in a 4-2 win at the Panthers on Nov. 16, 1993.
"It was the end result of us doing the right things," Kreider said. "There's going to be stretches where pucks aren't going to go in but we're getting looks. Then they come in bunches like that, especially with the skill we have."
Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said, "You have to gather yourself. You have to calm your mind when the storm hits. We were not able to do that tonight."
Kreider scored the Rangers' fourth straight goal when he tapped in a pass from Mika Zibanejad on the power play 52 seconds into the third period for a 5-2 lead. Kreider has scored 11 goals this season, seven on the power play.

Merzlikins blamed himself for the loss after he did not play in the 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday.
"The guys had a good game last night. I feel like I was the cheater today," he said. "They played really good last night. I was the only guy who was fresh. They were tired. They played back to back.
"We all know how it is. I should give more for the team. I was the only one who was rested, who didn't play, who had the fresh legs. I should be the difference-maker and I had to stop all of those three shots (in the second period)."
NOTES: With an assist on the first goal, Fox passed Brad Park for the fifth-most assists (87) by a Rangers defenseman in his first three NHL seasons. Fox also assisted on the fifth goal. He trails Reijo Ruotsalainen (130), Sergei Zubov (126), Brian Leetch (125) and Ron Greschner (94). … Georgiev played his 100th NHL game. … Forward Ryan Strome had two assists for New York. … Voracek has scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in a five-game point streak. … Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand (assist) has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in a five-game point streak.