Rangers Lose Captain, Clinch Playoff Spot

Photo Credit: AP

The New York Rangers have clinched a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive year.  In their battle against the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night, they managed to come out on top 4-2.  Unfortunately they lost their captain, Ryan McDonagh, to an upper-body injury in the first period.

Rangers forward Chris Kreider, who has been breaking out recently, opened the scoring on a backhand shot six minutes into the game. Kreider’s goal, which was assisted by Derek Stepan and goalie Henrik Lundqvist, was the only goal of the first period. Veteran forward Dan Boyle scored unassisted five minutes into the second period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead over the Blue Jackets. Columbus forward Nick Foligno answered back with a goal almost nine minutes later, putting his team on the scoreboard. Four minutes later, Kreider would get the assist on Mats Zuccarello’s snapshot, his 26th goal of the season, putting New York up by two yet again. In the third period, Foligno would score for Columbus a second time, trying to close the gap between the Blue Jackets and the Rangers. Rangers alternate captain Derek Stepan fired back with a shorthanded goal to make the final score 4-2 in the Rangers’ favor, and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

The Rangers had to win one game in any fashion in order to clinch a playoff berth, which they finally did after having the opportunity for their last three games. Losing McDonagh at the end of the regular season could be a problem for the team as he nor the trainers want to rush his recovery just so he can get back to it in the playoffs and risk a more significant injury. In last year’s playoffs, the Rangers, including McDonagh, were riddled with injuries up until they were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals. Being so close to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, the Rangers are surely itching to get there and even further this time around.