Bobrovsky gets 21st shutout, Blue Jackets beat Rangers 2-0
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves for his 21st career shutout and Zach Werenski and Artemi Panarin scored in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night.
New York ran into a hot goalie in Bobrovsky, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner who notched his second shutout of the season in powering Columbus to its third straight victory.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was nearly as good against the increasingly aggressive Blue Jackets, stopping 40 shots on the night. The Rangers (11-8-1) lost their second straight following a six-game win streak.
After a scoreless first period in which both goalies made some slick, sprawling saves, Werenski found the back of the net with his sixth goal of the season 13:34 into the second.
Brandon Dubinsky lost the handle of the puck in the slot, and Werenski picked it up just inside the right circle and beat Lundqvist with a one-timer.
Columbus (12-7-1) was the aggressor in the second frame, outshooting the Rangers 19-9, and kept up the pressure in the third.
Panarin scored his fourth goal of the season on a power play 7:14 into the third period, rocketing a slap shot from the high slot that ricocheted off the bar and in.
The Blue Jackets are 9-1-0 this season when allowing two goals or fewer.
NOTES: Panarin's goal was his seventh in seven career games against the Rangers. ...Columbus signed F Cam Atkinson to a seven-year, $41.1 million contract extension. ... Columbus F Zac Dalpe was activated from injured reserve and sent to Cleveland of the American Hockey League....Columbus got its first win in regulation since Nov. 2. ... New York F Jimmy Vesey marked his 100th NHL game....Rangers D Brendan Smith was in the lineup for the Rangers after being scratched the past six games. He replaced Steven Kampfer, who was scratched Friday along with C Paul Carey. ... D Scott Harrington and D David Savard were scratches for Columbus. Blue Jackets F Alexander Wennberg missed a second game with an undisclosed injury.
UP NEXT:
New York: Hosts Ottawa on Sunday.
Columbus: Plays at Buffalo on Monday night.
