Matt Calvert and the Blue Jackets celebrate his goal 38 seconds in.
AP Photo/Jason DeCrow

The losing continues. For a fourth straight game on home ice, the Rangers weren’t good enough to win. They fell to the Blue Jackets 4-2 at a quiet transformed MSG. Quiet is probably the best way to describe the performance of Rick Nash. Facing his former team, he did absolutely nothing. As in no shots and a minus-two rating. Unthinkable.

Former Rangers Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky were a lot more noticeable. Anisimov scored a goal in his Garden return. Dubinsky centered the Jackets’ top line finishing with two shots and taking two minor penalties. Even though he didn’t get on the score sheet, he had an early impact. It was his line that off to a quick start. Matt Calvert beat Henrik Lundqvist just 38 seconds in from Cam Atkinson and another ex-Blueshirt Fedor Tyutin. On the play, three Ranger forwards were caught up the ice allowing Calvert to blow past the defense and go top corner on Lundqvist.

Inexplicably, the Rangers were outshot 7-1 early. Columbus dominated with its aggressive forecheck. The game also marked the NHL debut of Dylan McIlrath. Recalled from Hartford to provide toughness, the rookie defenseman got taught a valuable lesson. The former 2010 first round pick went for a big hit at the Blue Jacket blueline and missed leading directly to Anisimov finishing off a three on one from Blake Comeau and Boone Jenner. It’s exactly the kind of high risk play you expect from a 21-year old in his first game. He’ll learn. In 13 shifts (8:55), McIlrath was minus-one and credited with one hit. He didn’t see the ice in the third period.

With the crowd already edgy, another defensive breakdown led to David Savard scoring his first at 11:10. Carl Hagelin was the main culprit forgetting to switch coverage leaving Savard alone at the point to fire a shot that deflected off defenseman Mike Del Zotto and in. That chased Lundqvist from net. Since getting his extension, he’s 1-3-1 allowing 15 goals on 126 shots (.881 save percentage). If anyone wants to calculate his goals against, be my guest. I’m not going to bother. He continues to see a higher quality shot. You see the end results. Was tonight his fault? Hardly. The only one I can really get on him for was Calvert because of the lousy timing. It was a quality chance. Hank didn’t play it well giving Calvert too much of an angle.

Alain Vigneault didn’t hesitate to call on rookie backup Cam Talbot. The move seemed to spark the team. They responded by getting back in the game. At the conclusion of a power play, Dominic Moore backhanded home his first from Brad Richards. On due to growing impatience from Vigneault, Moore simply got to a loose rebound by Curtis McElhinney and buried it with Chris Kreider in front. The Rangers continued to pressure evening the shots at 16 after the first. In relief of Lundqvist, Talbot was steady turning aside 13 of 14 shots. He made a couple of big ones and also got lucky with Columbus hitting two posts. However, he gave the team a chance.

The second was particularly frustrating. With journeyman Mike McKenna in relief of an injured McElhinney, the Jackets protected the lead. Playing a tight checking defensive style similar to what used to be seen in these parts, they made it tough on the Rangers in the neutral zone. They did manage 11 shots but none really tested him. That was despite Dubinsky picking up consecutive undisciplined penalties including a hi-stick that McIlrath drew by engaging him. That was a prime example of why he was brought up. To inject energy. Brian Boyle also mixed it up with Nick Foligno. It was a frustrating night for Boyle, who was snake bitten. Ex-Jacket Derek Dorsett had a livelier game taking Ryan Johansen off the ice with him. That kind of edge has been missing.

With nothing happening the first half of the third, coincidental minors to Dorsett and Dalton Prout opened the ice. After Columbus controlled the first part of the four on four, Mats Zuccarello set up Dan Girardi for his first goal in 15. The play was made possible by Del Zotto. He made a good outlet and Zuccarello threaded the needle to Girardi for his second cutting the deficit to 3-2 with 8:53 left. Speaking of Del Zotto, he’s been better since Marc Staal went down. He also came up with a great defensive play to deny Johansen on a breakaway.

The Rangers couldn’t quite get the game tied. They had some chances but only managed seven shots. Vigneault switched the lines moving Nash back with Zuccarello and Derek Stepan. Hagelin played with Richards and Kreider. He also mixed in Benoit Pouliot who was more active in his return. A bad Ryan McDonagh pinch finished off the comeback. Desperately trying to keep a puck in at the blueline, he was caught by Tyutin who pushed the puck ahead for Johansen. Dangerous all night, his wrist shot squeezed through Talbot to make it 4-2 with 1:32 left. A crusher. Definitely one Talbot would want back.

When the buzzer sounded, it was the Rangers’ fifth consecutive loss at the “Transformed MSG.” Now 5-9-1 and 0-4-1 this month, they might want to stop mentioning it along with the Chase Bridges. You’re all welcome to jump.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Dominic Moore, NYR (1st of season, 2 SOG, 7 for 7 on faceoffs, +1 in 14 shifts-8:33)

2nd Star-Artem Anisimov, CBJ (8th of season, +1 in 16:08- strong defensive work all while flying under radar)

1st Star-Fedor Tyutin, CBJ (2 assists, 2 hits, blocked shot in 23:06- steady influence)