COLUMBUS, Ohio — Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan each scored their 20th goals and had an assist, and the Rangers hung on to beat the Blue Jackets 4-2 Monday night to earn a sixth-consecutive playoff berth.
Dan Boyle and Mats Zuccarello also scored for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game skid and moved three points behind second-place Pittsburgh and remained two ahead of the fourth-place Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.
The Rangers clinched playing down a defenseman most of the way. Captain Ryan McDonagh was injured blocking a shot early in the first period and left the game.