Stepan Up: Overtime hero Derek Stepan celebrates his winner with Dan Girardi.
AP Photo by John Minchillo/Getty Images

One thing you can never question about this team. Their heart and character. They never give up. That fighting spirit allowed the Rangers to rally past the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime at an electric MSG.

Derek Stepan’s late heroics allowed them to move closer to the President’s Trophy. His goal with 27.7 seconds left in regulation and overtime winner with 49.6 seconds left pulled the Rangers within two points of securing home ice throughout the playoffs.

”It’s a huge accomplishment,” captain Ryan McDonagh said in reference to possibly earning the franchise’s second President’s Trophy. Their first came in ’93-94. ”It’s about us playing to our strengths and giving us a chance to win.”

They’ll get the chance to do it when they visit the Devils later tonight in Newark. If they earn two points, it would give them 111. Anaheim could match that total. However, the Ducks and Blues trail the Rangers in regulation and overtime wins 47-42. In winning their fourth in a row, the Blueshirts improved to 51-21-7. They have three games left with the Devils Tuesday, the Senators Thursday and finish up with the Capitals Saturday. They need at least one point to wrap up home ice in the East. Montreal has 106 points with two left. They can get to 110 but only have 42 ROW.

Facing the hottest team in the league, it was a emotional roller coaster. On a special night in which the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award was given to Cam Talbot, the Blue Jackets and Rangers battled for nearly 65 minutes.

The teams traded goals in each of the first three periods. The Garden hosts led twice on goals by Martin St. Louis and Dan Girardi. But fell behind on consecutive Columbus goals from Marko Dano and former Steven McDonald winner Brandon Dubinsky. Of course, Dubinsky would score to put his team ahead with 11:46 left. It was his second goal against his former team in seven games. That’s when he’s been healthy enough to play.

Seeking their 10th straight victory, the Jackets led until the final frantic minute. With Henrik Lundqvist off for an extra attacker, the Rangers wouldn’t be denied. The newly formed All-American Line delivered the tying goal when Stepan finished off a Chris Kreider drop pass at 19:32 of regulation from Kreider and J.T. Miller. They were pumped.

In what amounted to pond hockey during a rambunctious 4-on-4 that saw each side trade chances, the Rangers won it following a great save from Lundqvist. Moments earlier, he robbed Jack Johnson off a gorgeous rush and set up from Nick Foligno. Then former Blueshirt Artem Anisimov had the game on his stick. Off a faceoff win, he had Lundqvist dead to rights but a Kreider backcheck forced a miss upstairs that left Anisimov shaking his head.

At the opposite end, the Rangers buzzed around Sergei Bobrovsky’s net. He had stopped the first five shots in OT. Then Stepan got free and deposited a Keith Yandle feed past Bobrovsky for the game-winner.

”I think in order to have success in the playoffs, you have to be able to handle ebbs and flows,” an excited Stepan explained after tallying twice and setting up another in the win. ”We’ve been able to find ways to win hockey games.”

They did it because they found a way. That is who they are. It was a good win against a tough opponent that’s been playing lights out. If not for nearly 500 man-games lost, the Blue Jackets could be in the playoffs. Instead, they’re on the outside looking in. A point not lost on Lundqvist.

”It was a good test for me and for us,” the former Vezina winner said after winning his fourth straight decision making 29 saves. ”They’re a really good team. They’re a fast team. If they didn’t have the injuries during the season to key guys, I think they’d be in the playoffs because they play good hockey: physical, good speed, good quality up front, good goaltending.

“It was a great test for us.”

There’ll be a lot more tests forthcoming. We’ll see if they’re ready.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Dan Girardi, NYR (goal-4th of season, 3 blocked shots in 30 shifts-22:11)

2nd Star-Chris Kreider, NYR (2 assists, +3 in 21 shifts-17:41)

1st Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (tying goal and OT winner-15th, 16th, assist, 14-and-6 on faceoffs, +2 in 24 shifts-18:20)