Sports

Rangers clinch playoff berth with 4-2 win over Blue Jackets

Associated Press
Published | Updated

New York Rangers' Marc Staal, left, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Jared Boll chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)

New York Rangers' Jesper Fast, left, of Sweden, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Ryan Murray fight for a loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)

New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, left, of Sweden, makes a save against Columbus Blue Jackets' David Savard during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)

Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan each scored their 20th goals and had an assist, and the New York Rangers hung on to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 Monday night to earn a sixth-consecutive playoff berth.

Dan Boyle and Mats Zuccarello also scored for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game skid and moved three points behind second-place Pittsburgh and remained two ahead of the fourth-place Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.

The Rangers clinched playing down a defenseman most of the way. Captain Ryan McDonagh was injured blocking a shot early in the first period and left the game.

Henrik Lundqvist made 27 stops for his 34th win.

Nick Foligno scored twice for Columbus, which pulled within one with 9:15 remaining before conceding an empty-net goal late.