Kirill Marchenko played a decisive role in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 5-4 overtime victory against the New York Rangers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The forward scored the game-winning goal just over a minute into overtime, capping off a two-goal, three-point performance.
Marchenko described his approach to the overtime winner, stating, “I close my eyes.” He added, “I kind of know where the net is going to be, and I try to control the puck and do a look. When I get the puck, I know I will shoot low blocker. It’s nice to see the puck on net because if I miss, it’s a bit tough. I don’t think much in those moments, I just do what I do.”
Reflecting on the team giving up a four-goal lead in the third period before regaining composure in overtime, Marchenko said: “It’s just crazy. I’m a little shocked when it’s 4-4. But I just refresh everything from my brain and just do my job on the ice. Overtime, it feels like a new game starts and one goal gives us two points. I just think about that and try to forget the four goals.”
The Blue Jackets had established a 4-0 advantage through two periods but struggled defensively in the third as New York rallied to tie with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Head coach Rick Bowness commented on his team’s difficulties handling pressure after taking an early lead: “The fans booed them off the ice in the second period,” Bowness noted. “We were expecting that (push), so I’d say we didn’t handle it very well.”
Bowness further addressed mistakes that led to New York’s comeback: “First of all, I would look at our level of desperation going back for pucks. That was certainly a problem. A couple of soft plays with the puck was a problem, and to give up that fourth goal when our defense never should have been up the ice pinching there. Listen, it was really self-inflicted. Look at the second goal. We stumble, we fall, they get it, they throw it right back at the net.
“A lot of it was self-inflicted, so we’ll address that and take the two points and get ready for tomorrow.”
Forward Mathieu Olivier highlighted both teams’ roles in shifting momentum: “They got two quick ones right off the hop, and obviously that puts you on your heels,” Olivier said. “I thought we gathered ourselves pretty good after that, but it’s a combination of them pushing hard and us maybe falling back on our heels that created the 4-4 and the comeback. But at the end of the day, the good thing for our squad is tomorrow we have another game, so we can get right back at it and we found a way to win.”
Despite surrendering their lead late in regulation, Columbus produced strong play for much of regulation time by outshooting New York early and converting on special teams opportunities—a point emphasized by Bowness: “We did a lot of really good things,” he said. “The forecheck was good. They made some really good plays. The penalty kill was obviously good tonight getting the shorty, and we finally had a power play…the specialty teams were good.
“Listen, we did a lot of really good things. I learned a lot about our team tonight. That’s the first time I’ve seen this, and I’ve learned a lot about our team and that’s a good thing.”
Olivier echoed these sentiments regarding their early advantage: “We needed all four goals, but I thought obviously the first two periods we put ourselves in a good position to win,” he said.
The win comes as Columbus seeks consistency following recent losses after an Olympic break while looking ahead toward potential playoff contention with important games approaching.
