COLUMBUS, Ohio - This could be some matchup in the playoffs -- if both teams make it.
Derek Brassard curled from behind the net at the left post and backhanded a quick shot off the side of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky at 11:31 of the third period to break a tie and lift the Rangers to a chippy 3-1 victory over the Blue Jackets Friday night at Nationwide Arena.
It was the 16th goal for Brassard, who like Rick Nash and three other former Blue Jackets, was returning to his former city. Carl Hagelin added an empty-netter with 38.7 seconds left.
The win, which came after a scoreless two periods, gives the Rangers 80 points and lifted them over the Blue Jackets (78) into third place in the Metro Division with 11 games to play. Columbus has a game in hand.
In a game with playoff intensity, and one that marked Nash's first return to the arena where he played for 10 years, both teams came out hard. Tempers were on edge from the opening faceoff, and exploded when an apparent goal was waved off on Nash's rush; he was bumped into Bobrovsky by Jack John- son and the puck slid into the net at 17:06 of the second. But the officials ruled no goal and when Nash got to his feet, Bobrovsky waved his stick at him, prompting Nash to shove him, high and hard, inciting some mayhem, with players pairing off. Nash, Chris Kreider and Columbus' Artem Anisimov went off for roughing.
Just after the opening faceoff in the third, Nash dropped the gloves with Matt Calvert, who had been shoving him after being tangled with him on the ice. The crowd booed Nash.
Each team scored in the first two minutes of the third. Nick Foligno took an errant pass in the Rangers zone and hit the net high past Henrik Lundqvist (25 saves) at 1:12. But 44 seconds later, Derek Stepan responded, beating Bobrovsky (29 saves) to tie the score at 1.
The physical play began early. When Rangers defenseman John Moore was drilled into the end boards by Blake Comeau in the first and spent time in the locker room, Benoit Pouliot dropped the gloves with Columbus' Derek Mackenzie. Moore returned to play a little in the second but did not come out for the third and there was no immediate update on his condition. Mats Zuccarello also was hammered by Fedor Tyutin, drawing a penalty at 18:27 of the first.
Nash, who was traded to the Ranges in July 2012, was booed whenever he touched the puck, but received a standing ovation during a video tribute in the first.
The Rangers had their fourth power play of the game in the second with 7:22 left when Tyutin hooked Hagelin and caught him in the face with a stick, but couldn't cash in.
Anton Stralman, another former Blue Jacket who was playing for the second time here since joining the Rangers, had two assists. Former Rangers Brandon Dubinsky and Anisimov were kept off the scoreboard.
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Posted by Unknown on Friday, March 21, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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