Blue Jackets OT Thriller
Kirill Marchenko scored twice—including the overtime game-winner—as Columbus survived a fierce Rangers rally to win 5-4 in OT. The Rangers scored three unanswered goals to force overtime, but Marchenko's heroics sealed the win for Columbus.
The victory for Columbus snapped a two-game skid and came after the team had squandered a four-goal lead. Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan, and Mathiew Olivier also scored for the Blue Jackets before the Rangers' rally. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves in the win. The game was a tale of two halves, with Columbus dominating the first two periods to build a 4-0 lead. The Rangers were outshot and showed little life until the third period, where they exploded with a 16-7 shot advantage. This comeback earned the Rangers a point in the standings for their third consecutive game. New York's third-period rally began just 30 seconds into the frame with a goal from Vladislav Gavrikov, followed 24 seconds later by Gabe Perreault's first of the night. Will Borgen brought the Rangers within one, and Perreault netted the tying goal with 4:46 remaining in regulation. Rangers' rookie Gabe Perreault had a historic third period, scoring two goals and adding an assist. This made him the first 20-year-old or younger Rangers player to record a three-point period since Alex Kovalev in 1993. Despite the dramatic comeback, the loss highlighted the Rangers' season-long struggles at home, dropping their record at Madison Square Garden to 7-16-5. Heading into the game, the Rangers were 8th in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 23-29-7. Marchenko's game-winner was his second goal of the night, and he also added an assist on the opening goal by Adam Fantilli. The 25-year-old winger has been a consistent offensive threat for Columbus.
