Blue Jackets 3 Rangers 2 SO (NHL)

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The Jackets clinch in dramatic way at the Garden in New York.

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New York lead 1-0 after 2 periods.

 

Early the third, Ryan Dzingel stole the puck, Nick Folingo lead a 3 on 2 rush that Dzingel finished with on a one timer off a pass from Folingo. With 5:33 to go, Artemi Panarin centers the puck on a break away by passing it through Ranger defensemen back to himself, then goes top shelf to give Columbus a 2-1 lead. An absolutely amazing thing to watch. However, with 6 seconds left in the game Sergei Bobrovski lost a Pavel Buchnevich rebound between his legs that drifted in to tie the game.

 

After the overtime period, Artemi Panarin scored the loan shootout goal and the Bob blocked the Rangers' last clinch a playoff spot for the Jackets.

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Columbus can still get into the #1 Wild Card position.

 

Tomorrow night, the Jackets play in Ottawa and Carolina is in Philly.

 

If Columbus wins in any fashion and the Canes lose in any fashion (OT or shootout), Columbus will take the #1 Wild Card spot and play Washington in the first round of the playoffs.

 

Any tie in points, at this point, would result with Columbus playing Washington in the first round. The only way a tie would occur is with Columbus winning and Carolina losing in an OT or shootout. If that were to happen, Columbus currently has more non-shootout wins, which is the 1st tie breaker.

 

Whoever has the last playoff spot travels to Tampa next week.