David Quinn called this the biggest game of the year for the New York Rangers’ playoff hopes and they laid an egg. Ironically, it was one of the best defensive games of the year, but they lost some of their discipline in the third period and it cost them big time.
The Blue Jackets are a team that plays a tough, disciplined style. They are never out of a game and they are opportunistic. The hockey gods are smiling on Columbus and the Rangers got a tough lesson in this game.
Columbus surprised everyone by not starting Elvis Merzlinkins and going with Matiss Kivlenieks, a Latvian goalie making his NHL debut.