Winning netminder Cam Talbot is congratulated by goalscorer Martin St. Louis following the Rangers’ 4-3 shootout win over the Blue Jackets.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

At least they won. After blowing a three-goal lead, the Rangers were bailed out by Rick Nash, whose shootout winner allowed them to edge the Blue Jackets 4-3 for their sixth win in the last eight. Without Henrik Lundqvist, they’ve managed to earn 16 of 20 points. Even with Cam Talbot struggling, they’ve only lost once in regulation since Lundqvist’s injury.

This one should’ve been much easier. But that’s not how they play. Despite what players say about getting off to quick starts and playing with leads, this team doesn’t do a good job protecting them. Forget the record. How many times can we see an Alain Vigneault coached team sit on the lead and not get shots in third periods? Is it a philosophical problem? Or is it like Martin St. Louis said. On the players to make plays.

 ”We talk all the time about trying to find ways,” St. Louis said after staying hot with a pair of goals giving him four in the last four games after going 15 straight without one. ”Obviously, up three goals, it’s not the way you are trying to get two points. We should have pulled away and closed it out.”

St. Louis’ rejuvenation is crucial to their success. There were moments where you didn’t notice him during an extended stretch. Finally, the 39-year old future Hall Of Famer is scoring. His two markers gave him 18 for the season. He has seven points over the last five. St. Louis and Derek Stepan are back in sync with the unlikely duo combining for 16 points (4-12-16) over a five-game stretch that’s seen the team go 4-0-1. Their scoring along with rookie Kevin Hayes’ (goal) rapid improvement gives them three lines that can put the puck in the net.

For the Blueshirts, it’s not about offense. There’s plenty. During a tough stretch where Talbot’s allowed three goals-or-more in seven of his last eight starts, they’ve managed to outscore the opposition 33-26. In his last eight, Talbot is 5-1-2 with a 3.19 goals-against-average and .895 save percentage. While part of that is due to the high risk style they play, Talbot has fought the puck since being forced into a starting role.

”We don’t want to give up any points to the other teams, but to get a win in the shootout was big for us,” Talbot admitted after making 27 saves and denying Cam Atkinson in Round 3 to preserve the win. ”The guys bailed me out huge.”

At the very least, the win pulled them within two points of first place due to the Islanders getting shutout by the Canucks 3-0. Despite no Lundqvist, they’ve won seven of 10 going 7-1-2 to move up to second in the airtight Metropolitan Division. Four points separate first from fourth. The Islanders are two up with 80. The Rangers have 78 and have three extra games left along with 33 ROW (regulation overtime wins) for first tiebreaker. By virtue of their 5-1 home win over the Panthers, the Penguins are third with 77 in 60 games played. The Capitals lost to the Flyers 3-2 remaining at 76 with 61 played. The Islanders have 21 games left while the Rangers have 24.

Even with them gaining in the standings, their defensive habits remain a work in progress. There are still too many correctable mistakes. Last year’s team wouldn’t have blown a three-goal lead. Due partially to a stronger supporting cast, they were stingier. That the Blue Jackets were able to methodically work their way back from a three-goal deficit after being severely outplayed in the first period despite it being a back-to-back speaks volumes.

Statistically speaking, the Rangers have outscored opponents in third periods 63-50. Their second period has been their worst with a 58-54 edge. They have dominated early outscoring opponents 57-35 in first periods. Here’s the catch. With the Jackets scoring the only goal in the third to tie last night’s game, they outshot the Rangers 8-1. Why it’s significant is because if you include that total, opponents have outshot the Rangers 550-522. While it doesn’t seem like a lot, compared to the first two periods it’s much worse. In first periods, they’re plus-47 (593-546) and in second periods, they’re plus-81 (660-579).

In what basically has become symbolic of how they play under Vigneault, the Rangers outshot the Blue Jackets 14-8 in the first and 16-11 in the second for a two period 30-19 advantage. What happened in the third? A similar result like Vancouver when they blew a one-goal lead with two minutes left. At least in that one, they scored twice after falling behind early in the third. The Canucks doubled them up in shots (12-6).

What is it about third periods that sees this team wear down? Is it the high tempo they play? Or is it not being as good fundamentally. There’s no doubt the ’14-15 edition isn’t as strong defensively. Losing Anton Stralman and replacing him with Dan Boyle was going to have an adverse affect. Speaking of which, why is the power play struggling? The Rangers had chances to put the Jackets away but failed miserably including a key one before David Savard’s tying goal eluded Talbot with 4:19 left.

It was also a Ranger four-on-three at the beginning of overtime that baffled after St. Louis drew a Fedor Tyutin trip nine seconds in. The usual result was over passing and not enough shots on Columbus backup Curtis McElhinney. A goalie who only was forced to make one save in the third after facing a two period onslaught. In a five-minute OT, he actually was forced to make some big saves stopping six Ranger shots.

Maybe the problem is psychological. They’ve played with leads before. Their record says they’re pretty successful going 26-0-1 when leading after two. Their .963 success rate ranks second in the NHL behind the Blackhawks, who are batting a perfect 1,000. In the regular season, the end result is what matters. As long as they’re piling up points, it’s fine. But something needs to change.

”We’ve got the standings up in the dressing room, so it’s hard not to see it,” Nash said after easily beating McElhinney with a twisted wrister in the third round. ”We’re worried about ourselves, worried about our game and our process and our game plan.”

Notes: Former Ranger Artem Anisimov sparked the Jackets back with a goal and assist. He finished off his fourth late in the second cutting the deficit to 3-2. … Rookie Marko Dano got the comeback started by burying a Nick Foligno pass less in short reply to St. Louis’ second that had the Rangers up 3-0. … Brandon Dubinsky was his usual pesky self hitting anyone in a Blueshirt including a near miss at St. Louis, who ducked in the nick of time. On the same shift, Dubinsky caught St. Louis and the two chirped before Chris Kreider came to his defense. … John Moore returned to the lineup for Matt Hunwick and had a minor penalty and two hits in 19 shifts (14:03). He had a scoring chance in OT but missed the net summing up his year.

MVP candidate Rick Nash beats Curtis McElhinney in Round 3 of the shootout giving the Rangers the win.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-J.T. Miller, NYR (2 SOG, 4 hits, 4-and-3 on draws in 16 shifts-12:51-played with confidence)

2nd Star-Artem Anisimov, CBJ (goal-4th, assist, 5 SOG, +1 in 20:09-nice to see Artie healthy)

1st Star-Martin St. Louis, NYR (2 goals-17th, 18th, +1 in 20:10-heating up at right time)