Vincent Trocheck scores twice as Rangers blank Blue Jackets

Vincent Trocheck scored two third period goals and the visiting New York Rangers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday night in a battle of Eastern Conference wild-card contenders.

Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist for New York, which moved ahead of Columbus into sole possession of the second wild-card spot. Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves for his fifth shutout of the season and second straight against the Blue Jackets.

Daniil Tarasov made 17 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three straight -- the past two by shutout -- since beating the Rangers 7-3 last Sunday. Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets No. 1 goalie, is away from the team as his wife is expecting the couple's second child.

Columbus went 0-for-3 on the power play; New York was 0-for-1.

Lafreniere gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead just 1:43 into the game. Mika Zibanejad forced a turnover in the offensive zone, controlled the puck behind the goal line and fed in front to a wide-open Lafreniere for a backhand shot.

Panarin made it 2-0 at 11:36 of the second period, controlling the puck in the corner and skating out into the left circle before turning and firing a wrist shot past Tarasov. It was his 29th goal of the season.

Panarin has points in eight straight games (12 points on six goals and six assists).

Trocheck made it 3-0 at 14:38 of the third period. Will Cuylle intercepted a pass at center ice and fed Panarin, who skated down into the left circle before passing across the slot to Trocheck, who scored from the right circle.

Columbus pulled Tarasov when they went on a power play with about four minutes remaining and the move backfired as J.T. Miller fed Trocheck on a 2-on-1 rush and he scored his second goal at 16:41. It was his 20th goal of the season.

--Field Level Media