Sports

Rangers' rally: Stepan's 2 late goals lift New York past Columbus 4-3 in OT

Associated Press
Published | Updated

New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis (26) celebrates with New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot, right, after scoring in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Monday, April 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (The Associated Press)

New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis (26) scores on Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (The Associated Press)

Derek Stepan scored with 28 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, then got the winner late in the extra period in the New York Rangers' 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

With their fourth straight win, the Rangers improved to 51-21-7 for a league-best 109 points. With three games remaining, the Rangers are two points ahead of Anaheim for the Presidents' Trophy. New York has four more (46-42) regulation and overtime wins, a tiebreaker.

The Rangers have won the Presidents' Trophy once in their 88-year history, in the 1993-94 season — the last time the franchise won the Stanley Cup.

Columbus, the NHL's hottest team, had won nine in a row, but won't make the playoffs.