Shesterkin, Rangers shut out Blue Jackets to gain ground in Metro

COLUMBUS -- Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves, and the New York Rangers gained ground in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

The Rangers moved within two points of the New Jersey Devils, who lost 2-1 to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, for second place. They are three points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes, who lost 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabres.
New York and New Jersey each has two games remaining; Carolina has three.
Shesterkin has three shutouts this season and 11 in his NHL career.
"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.
Niko Mikkola scored his first of the season, and Zibanejad had two assists for New York (47-21-12), which is 3-0-2 in its past five games and 12-2-3 in its past 17.
"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."

Michael Hutchinson made 24 saves for Columbus (24-47-8), which has been outscored 16-3 in three straight losses, including 8-1 to New Jersey on Thursday.
"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."
Jimmy Vesey gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 10:08 of the first period. After Barclay Goodrow took the puck from Joona Luoto at Columbus' blue line, he passed to Tyler Motte, who then sent a leading pass to Vesey in the left face-off circle for his first goal in 13 games.
"We played pretty well tonight," Goodrow said. "There's definitely another level we need to get to come [the playoffs]. You need to maintain good habits."
Chris Kreider made it 2-0 at 11:49. He scored on a loose puck at the left post after Zibanejad could not control it when Kreider's initial shot attempt hit the outside of the goal.

Mikkola extended it to 3-0 at 5:00 of the third period, receiving a cross-crease pass from Zibanejad for a tap-in at the left post.
It was Mikkola's first goal in 110 games. He hadn't scored since Jan. 15, 2022, as a member of the St. Louis Blues.
"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 made it 4-0 at 19:40 when he got behind the defense and scored glove side.
"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."
NOTES:Rangers forward Patrick Kane had an assist, three shots on goal and was plus-2 in 16:18 of ice time after missing two games with a lower-body injury. … Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson left the game at 18:37 of the second period after colliding with Mikkola. Larsen did not have an update after the game. … Columbus has not won in regulation since a 5-3 victory at the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 28, a span of 18 games. … Blue Jackets defensemen Marcus Bjork and David Jiricek and forwards Trey Fix-Wolansky and Luoto were recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland of the American Hockey League earlier Saturday and each played.