Even on a night when their offense was almost non-existent, the Rangers continued their recent winning ways.
And it was almost all because of Igor Shesterkin, who was perfect not only in regulation and overtime, but also in the shootout during Saturday's 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden.
He stopped all three of Columbus' attempts and the Rangers got a penalty goal from Vincent Trocheck, which was all they needed.
For a team that has almost no margin for error if it wants to reach the postseason thanks to its ugly play earlier in the season, Shesterkin's play has been crucial.
It opened another crucial stretch with a game against a very exciting Blue Jackets team, who entered on a six-game winning streak to put themselves as the wild card leaders in the Eastern Conference.
The game was the first of seven games in which the Rangers would play six games against teams ahead of them in the East.
“Obviously it doesn't take a lot of time to look and see where we are, where we have to go and who we have to get through,” coach Peter Laviolette said before the game.
