Columbus Beats Rangers for Ninth Straight Victory

The Columbus Blue Jackets stumbled around for much of the 2017-18 campaign, but are putting on a late season surge as we go into the final stretch of the NHL regular season. The Blue Jackets beat the New York Rangers 5-3 at Madison Square Garden on March 20th for their ninth straight win. The victory moved the Blue Jackets into a tie for second with Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division with 87 points. Washington leads with 91.

Artemi Panarin had a hat trick and assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky had 29 saves for Columbus. Panarin leads the Blue Jackets in both goals (25) assists (43). Panarin is having a great first season with Columbus after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in the last off season.

And speaking of the Blackhawks, the mighty indeed have fallen. While Columbus was winning in New York, the Blackhawks fell meekly to the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 at the United Center. The loss eliminated the Blackhawks from the playoff chase after nine straight years of post season appearances including three Stanley Cup championships.