NEW YORK – The Blue Jackets are back within two points of the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals after winning for just the sixth time in 13 games since reeling off 16 straight victories.
Seth Jones scored twice and the Jackets built a 6-0 lead before holding off the Rangers, 6-4 in New York. Alexander Wennberg scored once and had two assists for Columbus, which broke it open with a four-goal second period.
Brandon Saad added a goal and an assist, and Nick Foligno and Matt Calvert also scored for the Blue Jackets. Calvert’s tally put the Blue Jackets ahead by six early in the final period.
Joonas Korpisalo, starting in place of All-Star Sergei Bobrovsky, stopped 33 shots.
Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist was pulled less than four minutes into the second period after surrendering three goals on 16 shots. He was replaced by Antti Raanta, who finished with seven saves on 10 shots.