COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) \u2014 Adam Fantilli scored twice, including an empty-net goal with 2:54 remaining, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Thursday night, keeping alive hopes for their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season.<\/p>\n
Columbus extended its point streak to 11 games and takes over third-place in the Metropolitan Division thanks to the New York Islanders\u2019 3-2 loss in Ottawa.<\/p>\n
Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist, and Isac Lundestrom, Conor Garland and Damon Severson also scored. Zach Werenski\u2019s three assists give him 52 on the season and his second career 70-plus point season, tying him with Artemi Panarin for the most in team history. Jet Greaves made 22 saves for Columbus, which has won three straight.<\/p>\n
Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and an assist, and Vincent Trocheck also scored for New York, which had its two-game road win streak snapped. Igor Shesterkin finished with 31 saves.<\/p>\n
Trocheck opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 5:41 of the first period, but Lundestrom tied it late in the period. Garland gave Columbus a 2-1 lead with 59 seconds remaining when his centering attempt deflected in off a defender.<\/p>\n
Zibanejad tied it 2-2 at 4:44 of the second period, but Jenner answered at 7:04, scoring off his own rebound. Fantilli added a power-play goal to make it 4-2.<\/p>\n
Lafreniere pulled the Rangers within one with a power-play goal 50 seconds into the third \u2014 New York\u2019s ninth goal with a man advantage in its last nine games \u2014 before Severson restored Columbus\u2019 two-goal lead midway through the period.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Rangers: Host Winnipeg on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Blue Jackets: Host Seattle on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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