Will Cuylle scored two goals in the third period to seal a Ranger win against the Blue Jackets.
Kent Johnson(17), Justin Danforth(5), and James van Riemsdyk(11) scored the goals for the CBJ, and Elvis Merzļikins stopped 36 shots in a 4-3 New York win.
The Blue Jackets came into this game one point out of the wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and absolutely needed at least a point to get themselves back into the WC2 position, but that didn't happen on Saturday night. Instead, they head into the two-week break still one point out, and losers of four straight games.
Each team made mistakes in this game, as both had 18 giveaways. There was also lots of sloppy play from each squad. New York played last night at home and had to travel, so they can be excused. The Jackets also played four games this week, two on the road and two at home. The Four Nations break couldn't come soon enough for the exhausted and injured Jackets.
With the score tied at three with under two minutes left, the CBJ had the puck in their O-zone. Young Adam Fantilli took a pass from Severson in the right circle and immediately tried to turn and sling it toward the net, not realizing Adam Fox was parked on his hip. The shot attempt was blocked and cleared back into the Jackets D-zone where Denton Mateychuk gathered it and circled toward Elvis. Mateychuk tried to get the puck to Kent Johnson, but Vincent Trocheck quickly stuck his stick out and deflected the pass. Instead of making its way toward Johnson, the puck hit the wall and came straight back into the circle where Will Cuylle snatched it up and shot it all in one motion to beat an unsuspecting Merzļikins for what would be the game-winner. Not the ending the Jackets needed going into the break.
On the bright side, Zach Werenski continued his historic home points streak.
Zach Werenski said after the game, "We're going to be fine. We lost to Detroit earlier in the year in similar fashion, end of the game, and we were fine after that as well. We'll learn from it and we'll move forward."
Dean Evason Quotes:
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What's Next: Zach Werenski will now take the ice for the United States in the Four Nations Face-Off, which kicks off this coming Thursday, as the U.S. takes on Finland. The rest of the Jackets will get some much-needed R&R before coming back home to play the Chicago Blackhawks on February 22nd.
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