Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Nikolai Zherdev had a goal and two assists as the New York Rangers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1, at Nationwide Arena.
Zherdev burned his old team in his first appearance against Columbus, which traded both he and Dan Fritsche to New York for Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin in the off-season.
Daniel Girardi registered a goal and an assist while Brandon Dubinsky also scored for New York, which went on a five-game winning streak to begin its 2008-09 campaign, but have since dropped three of five contests (2-2-1).
Henrik Lundqvist stopped all but one of the Blue Jackets' 26 shots for the win and stood tall in turning away a breakaway by Columbus' sharp-shooter Rick Nash while still trailing 1-0.
Jakub Voracek, the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, tallied the lone goal for Columbus, which went 0-for-6 on the power play and got 29 saves from Pascal Leclaire in defeat. The Blue Jackets have dropped four of six, overall.
In a period riddled with penalties, New York was able to capitalize on a 4-on-3 advantage at the 12:11 mark of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Zherdev shuffled the puck in front and Dubinsky was credited with the goal after the puck deflected off his skate and past Leclaire. The play was reviewed as Dubinsky appeared to intentionally redirect the puck with his foot, but the score was upheld.
The Rangers made it a 3-1 game in the third as Zherdev scooped up a broken pass in the slot to the left of Leclaire and lifted a backhander into the net with 6:12 remaining in the game.
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Columbus pulled the goaltender with over a minute remaining and got a 29- second man-advantage after overlapping penalties expired, but couldn't find the back of the net.
Voracek gave Columbus a 1-0 lead in the first. A bouncing puck hopped over the stick of Rangers defenseman Dimitri Kalinin in the neutral zone, allowing Voracek to motor past the paralyzed blueliner and in on Lundqvist. The netminder made the first save, but Voracek was able to chip in his own rebound.
Girardi's wrister from the right point past a screening Markus Naslund in front, eluded Leclaire on the far side to tie the game at 1-1, 8:33 into the second period.
