Oh Captain My Captain: Ranger captain Ryan Callahan celebrates one of two goals with Carl Hagelin at the bench. Getty Images/Jim McIsaac

For one night at least, Ryan Callahan silenced the rumors that won’t go away. With Colorado in town for a back-to-back following an overtime win at New Jersey, the popular Rangers captain delivered a big performance highlighting a 5-1 win at MSG. His two goals (16th career multi-goal game) and assist led the Rangers to a season high fourth consecutive win.

”I try not to bring that business to the rink,” Callahan said after being selected the game’s number one star and donning the Broadway Hat. ”I try to concentrate on the Rangers and what we’re doing here. That’s my main focus.

”That is where I want to be, on the ice playing for the Rangers.”

Entering the game, he only had two goals over his last 19 games. Much discussion has centered around his future. With GM Glen Sather wanting to have it settled by the end of the week Olympic deadline, some even speculated that he might’ve played his final game last Friday. Instead, that was put to rest when number 24 skated with the rest of his teammates and had his best performance of the season. Always having a flair for the dramatic, Callahan scored twice in a dominant first period which the Rangers controlled by outshooting the Avalanche 20-4.

His first came with 5:44 left thanks to some stellar defensive work from linemate Carl Hagelin. After forcing a turnover, he fed a trailing Callahan on a two on one and watched the captain go to the backhand beating Semyon Varlamov. It only took another 3:19 for him to register his second of the game. Strong back check pressure resulted in a Colorado miscue. The puck came to Brad Richards, who centered for an open Callahan for an easy finish. His 11th proved to be the winner. That line had a great night combining for three goals and four assists along with a plus-nine rating.

”Ryan’s been playing hard since the first game,” Rangers coach Alain Vigneault stated while continuing to roll the same four lines and three D pairs that’s allowed them to find chemistry. ”He’s the captain of the team. He prepares real well and competes every shift.

”Tonight was one of those nights where he did exactly the same thing, except he was able to finish a couple of great setups.”

For once, they were rested coming in. Following three days off, they took full advantage of a weary Colorado club that was on the road playing for the third time over four days. The Avs have been playing great hockey and are even challenging the Blackhawks and Blues for the Central Division. Even with Varlamov getting a rare night off, it didn’t matter.

”Those three days (off) definitely helped us,” Callahan said. ”We jumped out in the first and we get that momentum. We seemed to roll with it and never really gave it back.”

”I don’t think they came out very hard,” third star Henrik Lundqvist pointed out after making 27 saves to continue his roll. ”We set the tone.”

The Avalanche did cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second thanks to some fancy passing for a Gabriel Landeskog power play tally. With Dan Girardi off for holding the stick, a perfectly set up play saw USA Olympian Paul Stastny combine with Calder frontrunner Nathan MacKinnon on a tic-tac-toe feed for a Landeskog one-time blast past Lundqvist at 6:37. It was as close as they got. The Rangers immediately responded when Anton Stralman notched his first 53 seconds later. Off a good cycle from Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello, the overlooked defenseman wristed one through traffic past Varlamov.

”At 2-1, we came right back and made it 3-1, and we killed off that full 5-on-3,” Vigneault said referring to a late Colorado two-man advantage for 1:50 that they failed to cash in on. ”Those were probably the biggest points.”

”Five-on-three – you don’t get many of those,” Landeskog said. ”We just weren’t good enough.”

Brassard extended to a three-goal lead only 1:58 into the third. Off a strong Zuccarello rush and forecheck, he took a centering feed and got a piece of a shot that trickled past Varlamov for his 10th. The goal gave the Blueshirts seven players (all forwards) with at least 10 goals or more. Let’s just call it one of those lucky bounces that happens when you’re hot. It definitely seemed to finish Colorado, who didn’t give much of an effort down three. Lundqvist stopped all 10 shots in the third but none really were out of the ordinary.

Vigneault gave Callahan every opportunity to get the hat trick. He has two so far. His best chance was a close call in the last few minutes when a wrap around was stopped by Varlamov. Vigneault also sent him back out for the final two shifts including one he recorded his third point on. Off a great cycle from Hagelin behind the net, Callahan centered for an open Richards, who snuck one past Varlamov for his 15th with 1:36 remaining. His two points (1-1-2) kept him tied with Zuccarello (2 A) for the team lead. Each have 41.

This night was about the captain. Even if there’s no guarantee he’ll stay past one of two deadlines, it was nice to see him get the love from a torn crowd. It would be nice if the Garden worried more about the present than trying to save face by leaking out negotiations to win the PR battle. Callahan has always bled Ranger blue. Whatever happens, he deserves our support. Not the attacks he’s getting because Sather can’t help himself. Good for Captain Cally.

BONY 3 STARS:

3rd Star-Anton Stralman, NYR (goal-1st of season, 4 SOG, takeaway, blocked shot, +3 in 20:48-deserves recognition)

2nd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (2 assists, SOG, blocked shot, +3 in 13:48-not most skilled but he sure does work)

1st Star-Ryan Callahan, NYR (2 goals-10, 11, assist-game high 6 SOG and 7 hits, block, +3 in 17:05-Oh Captain My Captain)

BATTLE NOTES: With a goal, Stralman erased a 59-game regular season drought. His last one came against the Sabres on Apr. 19, 2013. … Marc Staal missed the morning skate due to wife Lindsay giving birth to a baby girl. They welcomed Anna Veralyn Staal to their family. Despite no sleep, Staal didn’t miss a beat defensively going +3 in 27 shifts (21:25) with 2 shots, 2 blocks and a takeaway. … As a team the Rangers blocked 17 compared to the Avs’ 16. Girardi paced everyone with four. Nick Holden led Colorado with three. … The Rangers lost 30 of 56 faceoffs (46 percent). Derek Stepan was their best going 9 for 17. For the Avs, Matt Duchene went 7 for 8 and Stastny was 11 and 7. … With a PPG, Landeskog extended his point streak to seven (3-6-9).