Blue Jackets 3 - 4 Rangers
Final - OT
  for this game

Stepan, Rangers take down Blue Jackets in OT

Apr 7, 2015 - 3:23 AM New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Derek Stepan tied the game late in regulation then won it with 49.6 seconds remaining in overtime, as the New York Rangers stopped the hottest team in the NHL with a 4-3 decision over Columbus at Madison Square Garden.

Martin St. Louis and Dan Girardi also tallied for the Rangers, who pulled into a tie for the second-most points recorded in a single season with 109.

It was previously accomplished in 1970-71, 1971-72 and 2011-12, with the Blueshirts reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in the middle campaign.

Henrik Lundqvist came away with a 29-save victory.

Matt Calvert, Marko Dano and Brandon Dubinsky produced offense for the Blue Jackets, whose league-best and franchise-record win streak was halted at nine games.

Sergei Bobrovsky took the loss despite 38 saves, as his team hasn't lost in regulation since March 15 (9-0-1).

"It makes it difficult. I don't know if it's because we won nine in a row or how we lost this game with a lead in New York. I'm not sure," noted Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards. "Whenever you lose, it's disappointing and you could tell it still means a lot to the guys in the room."

Bobrovsky robbed Girardi twice from the top of the crease with 55.4 seconds remaining, yet after a full shift spent in the Columbus zone following an offensive-zone faceoff loss, Stepan tallied with 27.5 seconds showing on a shot from the left side thanks to a pass by Chris Kreider.

The hosts peppered Bobrovsky with five shots in the extra session, while Artem Anisimov had Lundqvist down before lifting a potential game winner high over the crossbar.

Stepan ended the contest by following up a Keith Yandle rebound, snaking around a defender and scoring from the left side.

"I felt like it was a good test for me and for us. They're a really good team. "they're fast. If they didn't have the injuries during the season to key guys, I think they'd be in the playoffs," Lundqvist said of the opposition.

St. Louis deposited the game's first goal at 5:38 of the first period, taking a Kevin Hayes whiff and scoring from the slot.

Columbus evened things as Jeremy Morin stripped Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh deep into the New York zone, carried behind the net and centered for a tap-in by Calvert at 17:20.

Girardi lit the lamp 36 seconds into the second period, then Dano countered by sweeping home a rebound at 14:42.

Thanks to a Nick Foligno pass between the circles on a rush, Dubinsky beat Lundqvist at 8:14 of the third and the Blue Jackets led for the first time, 3-2,

Game Notes

The Rangers' all-time record for points in a single season is 112, set in 1993-94, also the year of the franchise's last Stanley Cup victory ... Columbus also saw its team-record eight-game road win streak come to an end ... Dano has 12 points in last 12 games (4G, 8A) ... New York can clinch the Presidents' Trophy with a win over the Devils on Tuesday.






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