Rangers beat Blue Jackets 1-0 in a shootout behind Igor Shesterkin’s outstanding performance

They wanted two points. They needed two points. And they got them thanks to Igor Shesterkin.

The Rangers escaped the Garden with a 1-0 shootout win over the Blue Jackets Saturday night after a spectacular performance from Shesterkin, who made 27 saves. He stopped every shot he faced, including all three in the shootout.

It was Shesterkin’s second shutout this season and 17th of his career.

Vincent Trocheck scored the lone goal in the shootout. The center slowly weaved into the zone before using a deke to beat Daniil Tarasov (26 saves).

The win moved the Rangers (22-20-3) within three points of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They extended their point streak to seven (5-0-2) and are 6-1-2 in 2025.

The surprising Blue Jackets (22-17-7, 51 points) had their six-game win streak snapped.

Facing goalie Daniil Tarasov, who centered 4-6-1 with an .862 save percentage, the Rangers were limited to taking harmless shots from the perimeter. The most difficult save he had to make was a pad stop on Will Cuylle at the right post late in the second period.

Tarasov also benefited from some good fortune as Adam Fox hit the post in the first period. Later in the first, Arthur Kaliyev redirected Chris Kreider’s drive from the high slot off the crossbar.

Mostly, the Blueshirts’ forays into Columbus’ zone would either end in a turnover or one shot that would be quickly cleared out.

Shesterkin could not say the same as he had to work early, as the Blue Jackets outshot the Rangers 15-4 in the first period. Shesterkin’s toughest save was a goalmouth stop on Mathieu Olivier. He later turned away Kent Johnson 1:30 into the second period.

Neither the Rangers nor the Blue Jackets created much in the third, with Mika Zibanejad’s attempt at The Michigan goal late in the period being the best chance either team had. Zibanejad skated behind the opposing net with the puck, lifted it onto his stick and tried to flick a backhand shot into the top corner of the net in a lacrosse-style shot. 

Other than that, Zibanejad had a relatively tough night as he committed two two-minute minors and was struck in the face with a stick blade. He also had two breakaway attempts in the overtime period that Tarasov turned away.

Notes & quotes: The scratches were Jonny Brodzinski, Zac Jones, and Jimmy Vesey . . . Trocheck won 11 of 15 faceoffs . . . Will Cuylle had a game-high seven hits . . . Before the game, the Garden held a moment of silence for legendary philosopher George Kalinsky, who passed away Thursday night.