AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Score a bunch and hope Henrik Lundqvist makes the save has been the stigma of this season. However lately it’s been more like “score a lot and hope Hank makes the save and then makes 50 others because we don’t play defense.” Last night was another case of that, as the Rangers bled shots and had several facepalm incidents on defense. Some led to goals. Others led to miraculous saves. All led to us hanging our heads in shame.

Sergei Bobrovsky was also tested, as the Blueshirts actually put 32 shots on him. When you score three on Bob, you need to win. The Rangers did not. Because who needs defense?

On to the goals:

Jackets 1, Rangers 0

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976241379230691328

Five guys below the dots watching the puck. Somehow Thomas Vanek gets the puck out to Alex Wennberg in the high slot. He had all day to tee up this one.

Jackets 2, Rangers 0

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976252448955396096

How Artemi Panarin got this open is baffling, especially at even strength. You give him that much time in the slot, and no goalie stands a chance. Just terrible defense.

Jackets 2, Rangers 1

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976254393103405056

Jesper Fast made a nice play on the penalty kill, reading the play and intercepting the pass along the boards. He then found Kevin Hayes streaking down the ice for the breakaway. He buried it.

Jackets 3, Rangers 1

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976262991829233664

It’s easy to blame Marc Staal on this one, but I don’t know if that’s fair. He had to defend two guys, and couldn’t. So when Markus Nutivaara got the pass, he had time to tee up the shot from the slot. Hank didn’t have a chance on this one.

Jackets 3, Rangers 2

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976265166533939205

This was just a great shot by Mika Zibanejad on the powerplay. He had no room and still buried it. He really likes the Ovi spot.

Jackets 4, Rangers 2

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976267117342404609

Hank made a beautiful save on Cam Atkinson on the 2-on-1, but the play never stopped. It looks like Hank thought he had the puck, but clearly he didn’t. Panarin got the loose puck and roofed it.

Jackets 4, Rangers 3

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/976270789199781888

The Blueshirts sure made this interesting. A late powerplay, good puck movement, and another beautiful deflection by Kreider. His net front presence really doesn’t get enough credit. His deflections are perfect.

Jackets 5, Rangers 3

Panarin empty netter for the hat trick.

Look on the bright side, the Rangers didn’t win, so that’s a better chance at slipping in the standings and a better chance at winning the draft lottery. Lias Andersson might be on his way for the next game. Filip Chytil possibly on Monday. This long season is almost over, folks.

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