Cam Talbot, whose 16-4-3, 2.16, .929 work in relief of an ailing Henrik Lundqvist lifted the Rangers to the top of the league, received recognition as winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award as voted by Rangers fans.

NYPD Officer McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986, urged the Rangers to “have a celebration in June” before Talbot became the third goaltender after John Vanbiesbrouck (1989-90) and Lundqvist (2005-06) to gain such recognition.

Officer McDonald thanked the Blue Jackets for their attendance on the bench and ice for the pregame ceremony while citing past-winner Brandon Dubinsky (2007-08), at the Columbus blue line as the club’s starting left wing.

“I didn’t know until my name was announced; my wife wasn’t even at the game,” said Talbot, who will be in net against the Devils on Tuesday in Newark, with the Rangers one point away from clinching top seed in the East and one victory away from clinching the Presidents’ Trophy. “I was surprised for the most part, and really have to thank the fans.

“It’s not easy to embrace the backup goalie when the starting goalie goes down like that, so I want to recognize that support. It’s an extremely big honor to receive something like that for all [Officer McDonald] has done for the community and the team.

“It’s pretty special.”

Kevin Klein, who missed his 13th game with the broken left arm he suffered in Washington on March 11, skated again on his own before the Rangers’ full morning skate. Klein first did conditioning drills before doing some light stickhandling work.

The top-four righty defenseman is due for evaluation and X-rays on Wednesday. If cleared, it is possible Klein could play either in Thursday’s home finale against the Senators or in Saturday’s season finale in Washington.

Martin St. Louis scored his first goal in three games since returning from an eight-game absence. … The official score sheet showed the Rangers going 39-26 at the dots with the Jackets 25-40. Not possible. Derek Stepan was credited with winning 14-of-20 draws.

Evgeny Romasko, the first Russian-born referee to call an NHL game, worked his first Rangers’ match on Monday. It marked the fourth NHL game for the 33-year-old native of Tver who made his debut on March 9 in Detroit for an Oilers-Red Wings contest. Romasko previously worked in the KHL before starting this season in the AHL.

Dubinsky, cheered when recognized during the opening ceremony, was booed loudly when he scored at 8:14 of the third to give the Jackets a 3-2 lead. “[The fans] may not like me now that I’m on the other side,” he said before the game. “But they respect me.”