The Columbus Blue Jackets snapped their two-game losing streak in style, lighting up the scoreboard Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. In a commanding 7-3 win over the New York Rangers, they didn’t just reclaim the first Eastern Conference wild card spot, they made a statement about the potential of this team.
Adam Fantilli was outstanding, notching a hat trick, while Mathieu Olivier chipped in with a goal and an assist. Altogether, five Blue Jackets had multi-point nights, exactly the kind of effort needed to take down a tired Rangers team coming off a tough 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators the day before.
Related: Blue Jackets’ Fantilli & Olivier Combine For Five Goals in Rout of Rangers
This explosive showing wasn’t just another win, it was historic. With 63 games in the books, the 2024-2025 Blue Jackets are now the highest-scoring team in franchise history. And get this, it’s the 12th time this season they’ve scored at least six goals. When they’re dialed in like this, it’s hard to imagine many teams in the Eastern Conference, let alone the Metropolitan Division, keeping up with them.
Jackets Got to the Hard Areas
The Jackets didn’t just outscore the Rangers, they outworked them in both ends. This team thrives on grit, and it showed. They owned the hard areas in front of New York’s netminder, Jonathan Quick, creating traffic with screens, tips, and overall sheer effort. The shot count wasn’t outrageous—27 total—but the quality of their chances made the difference. Power forward Mathieu Olivier leads the way in this department, doing what he does best, battling in the slot and finding ways to score from the dirty areas.
The fourth line also made an impact Sunday night, staying true to their role as reliable depth contributors. With sharp puck movement, Sean Kuraly delivered a perfect pass to defenseman Dante Fabbro, who capitalized with a pinpoint shot past Jonathan Quick, making it 5-3 late in the middle frame.
These are the kinds of goals that will matter most when it’s playoff time. When the top guys are locked down and space is hard to come by, it’s the depth players who can swing the momentum. Performances like this show the true depth of this team’s potential—from the bottom six forwards to the defensive pairings and right up to the top six. Everyone pulling their weight is what makes this squad so dangerous.
Jackets’ Top Line…
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