NEW YORK — Filip Chytil, Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane scored early and Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves as the New York Rangers beat the hapless Blue Jackets 6-2.
Columbus has the fewest points in the Eastern Conference, while dealing with a rash of injuries to key players. The Blue Jackets played eight rookies during the game.
Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck also had goals for the Rangers, who clinched a playoff berth on their day off Monday and then won for the seventh time in eight games.
They are 9-1-1 in their last 11 and moved two points behind second-place New Jersey in the Metropolitan Division.
They play the Devils on Thursday in Newark.