Pro Sports

Bjorkstrand scores twice, rallies Jackets over Rangers 2-1

Posted January 20, 2020 6:00 am

By ALLAN KREDA

Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) congratulates Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) after Bjorkstrand scored a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. Bjorkstrom scored both goals as the Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - The surging Columbus Blue Jackets received a dose of stellar play from a rookie goaltender and a two-goal boost from returning Oliver Bjorkstrand to forge another close victory.

Bjorkstrand scored twice, including with 26.5 seconds left, to lift the Blue Jackets over the New York Rangers 2-1 Sunday night for their fifth straight win.

Bjorkstrand came back after missing 13 games with an oblique injury. He tied it 6:08 into the third period, then put the winner past goalie Igor Shesterkin for his 14th goal of the season, finishing a 3-on-2 break with assists credited to Pierre-Luc Dubois and Seth Jones.

'œIt's nice to get a few goals, a big one for us,'' the 24-year-old Bjorkstrand said. 'œIt was a game of patience where we just found a way to win it.'ť

Columbus rookie Matiss Kivlenieks made his first NHL start and stopped 31 shots. The surging Blue Jackets are 15-2-4 since Dec. 9 and 8-1-3 in their last 12 road games.

'œWe were as calm as we could be,'' Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. 'œOur goalie made key saves and our team had a lot of energy. We're just trying to ride this wave.'ť

Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei opened the scoring at 18:23 of the first period, eight seconds after his high-sticking penalty '“ the only infraction called during the game '“ had expired. A long pass from fellow defenseman Jacob Trouba went past Skjei's outstretched stick, but he managed to scoop up the ricochet off the boards and beat Kivlenieks for his seventh goal. Trouba had the only assist.

The 23-year-old Kivlenieks, from Riga, Latvia, was making his debut after fellow Latvian goalie Elvis Merzlikins blanked the New Jersey Devils 5-0 in Columbus on Saturday. Kivlenieks became the fifth Latvian goaltender to play in the NHL.

'œI was a little nervous. I was trying to treat it like any other hockey game,'' Kivlenieks said. 'œAll that matters is that we got two points. I'm really happy about it.''

The Rangers were coming off two straight wins over the Islanders, 3-2 at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday and a 6-2 drubbing Madison Square Garden on Monday. This performance against another division rival proved frustrating, leaving coach David Quinn vexed as his young club tries to stay in the playoff race.

'œWe pretty much got what we deserved when the night ended,'' Quinn said.

Kivlenieks, who was 7-7-2 with AHL Cleveland this season, played a strong second period. He denied Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Smith on point-blank chances in front. He also kept former Blue Jacket Artemi Panarin '“ who leads the Rangers with 68 points in his first season since leaving Columbus as a free agent '“ from getting on the scoresheet.

'œHonestly I still can't believe it happened. It's always been a dream'' a beaming Kivlenieks added after making 14 saves in the third period. 'œThe guys played really great in front of me.'ť

With the win, the Blue Jackets moved within one point of the third-place Islanders in the Metropolitan Division, remarkable considering where they were in the standings just over a month ago.

'œWe're just taking it day by day and game by game,'' said Jones, who leads Columbus with 22 assists. 'œWe're playing with confidence.'ť

Shesterkin made 29 saves in his third career start. He won his previous two against Colorado and New Jersey, both at home, earlier this month.

NOTES: The Rangers scratched Fs Phillip DiGiuseppe and Micheal Haley and G Alexandar Georgiev. ... The Blue Jackets scratched F Sonny Milano, D Adam Clendening and injured G Joonas Korpisalo. ... The teams meet again Feb. 14 in Columbus and March 24 in New York. ... The Rangers are the only team with eight players age 21 or younger to appear in at least one game this season. ... Rangers defensemen have 133 points (38 goals, 95 assists) this season, the most goals and points by defensemen on any team.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Host Islanders on Tuesday night before All-Star break and won't play again until Jan. 31.

Blue Jackets: Host Winnipeg on Wednesday night before All-Star break.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Columbus Blue Jackets center Riley Nash (20) congratulates right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) in front of center Boone Jenner (38) who embraces goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (80) after an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. Bjorkstrand had both goals as the Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois (18) defends New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (80) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

New York Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith (42) shoots as Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (80) reacts during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) prepares to pass with Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) looking on during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) skates with the puck as Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith (42) watches, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) tries to shoot against New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) with Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) defending during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

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