Rangers beat Columbus in overtime, 3-2
New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov celebrates with Brandon Dubinsky after scoring in the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets. (Feb. 19, 2012) Credit: AP
Like it or not, Rick Nash's stock -- and maybe his price at the trade deadline -- went up a little Sunday night.
After Nash, who has been the subject of trade rumors, tied the score with 1:33 remaining in the third period, Derek Stepan scored 22 seconds into overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After Nash's shot from the right circle beat Henrik Lundqvist, the Madison Square Garden crowd chanted, "We don't want you!"
Nash, who has been the topic of discussions between the teams' general managers -- Glen Sather of the Rangers and Scott Howson of the Blue Jackets -- brushed off the taunts, saying they are expected in any arena when an opponent scores in the waning seconds to send a game into overtime. He added that he did not consider the game a showcase: "No, we're trying to win. I'll do everything I can to help our team win."
But team captain Nash hasn't been enough to salvage a miserable season for the Blue Jackets. They are 7-19-4 on the road and are in last place in the NHL with 41 points.
"I faced him a lot over the years in international games," said Lundqvist, who made 21 saves and is 8-1-0 in the last nine games. "I know there's been some speculation. Whatever happens happens. But he's a talented guy, strong and a good shooter. It was a knuckle shot that went straight down. I'd rather see him get a clean rocket there and make the save."
It didn't end up costing the Rangers because Stepan scored into an almost wide-open net early in overtime to finish an exquisite series of passes by Marian Gaborik, who first faked a slapper, and Michael Del Zotto, whose cross-ice pass found Stepan unguarded.
"Hell of a play," coach John Tortorella said.
But this one should have been easier for the Rangers, who already were leading 2-1 when a wrister by Del Zotto appeared to cross the goal line with one-tenth of a second left in the second period, according to a replay on the scoreboard.
But after a video review in the war room in Toronto with the "official" clock, the referee reported that the puck was on the line at 0:00.0 -- no goal, and no 3-1 lead. Tortorella stood on the bench, gesturing toward the scoreboard, until he got an explanation.
"I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed," Del Zotto said.
"They have six clocks," Tortorella said. "But it was the right call."
So the Rangers, who still haven't lost two consecutive games since Dec. 13-15, climbed to 38-14-5 (81 points) and moved nine points ahead of the Bruins and Devils in the Eastern Conference.
Brad Richards scored his 18th for the only goal of the first period. Derek Brassard tied it at 1 on a power play 5:26 into the second, but the Rangers regained the lead when a long shot by Dan Girardi caromed off the end glass and to the left of the net, where Artem Anisimov pounced and beat sprawling goalie Steve Mason (32 saves). The goal, at 13:13 of the second period, was Anisimov's fourth in the last eight games. Before that, the Rangers couldn't cash in on a five-on-three for 1:33.
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