In New York, a dull, a truly dull first period on Tuesday was not anything close to being a harbinger of things t come in the Rangers’ match up with the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. 
A scoreless first led to a 2-1 Flyers lad after 40 minutes, followed by an improbable 5-5 tie after regulation.
Adam Fox ended the craziness with a snap shot from the right side of the slot with 36 seconds gone in extra time for the 6-5 win to the Rangers.
With the win, the Rangers clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the first team to do so this season, they are the first to 100 points, and are three points clear of the Carolina Hurricanes for the top of the Metropolitan Division.
“It’s huge,” Fox said of clinching a playoff spot. “It’s what you plan to do at the start of the year. I think that’s the first step for us. Ten games here to keep sharp and keep our foot on the gas. We want to keep racking up points and get our game ready for playoffs.”
The Canes lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1, on Tuesday night.
“Based on the season we’ve had there’s probably an assumption or expectation that at some point you’re going to get in [to the playoffs] so it’s not about that anymore,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s about playing the right way, feeling good about your game as you get near the playoffs, approach the playoffs, and then you’d like to keep it consistent in the playoffs.”
Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves in the win, with neither team committed to defense, he was on his own much of the night.
The Rangers improved to 48-20-4
After the scoreless first period, the Flyers hit for a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead, and take a lot wind out of Madison Square Garden.
Scott Laughton opened the scoring at 2:58 of the middle frame,
Ryan Poehling hit off the power play at 11:39 to seemingly take control of the game.
At 15:28, the Rangers finally woke up when Mika Zibanejad hit off a power play with a second chance effort at the puck from the left circle to trim the deficit to 2-1 headed to the third.
Artemi Panarin set up Zibanejad on the power play with an assist, it was his 100th point of the campaign.
“About time, right,” Zibanejad said jokingly. “He’s been close [to 100 points]. He’s an unbelievable player and he’s been so big for us this year. That’s a really cool accomplishment.”
Laviolette collected his 800th career NHL win with the victory.
The Flyers dropped to 36-27-10.
“It was a crazy third period after not a lot going on in the first 40,” Flyers associate coach Brad Shaw said. “They scored some big goals. I just loved how we battled back. It was quite a roller coaster up and down, highs and lows, but the fact that we kept scratching and clawing to get back into that game and get a point. It’s an awesome point.”
The Flyers remain in the third slot in the Metro, one point clear of the Washington Capitals.
“We’ve got nine huge games left and we’re going to take them one at a time,” Shaw said. “We’re going to try to get the job done and play some real meaningful games in April as well.”
The third period was crazy indeed.
New York scored twice to to take a 3-2 lead in the third.
Jonny Brodzinski potted a marker at 1:23 of the third for a 2-2 tie for the Rangers.
Alexis Lafreniere, who hit for a double in the period, potted his first at 2:57 for a 3-2 lead to New York.
This is where it all came apart in terms of organized sport. ,
Travis Konecny tied the game, 3-3, at 6:45, scoring off an odd man rush.
Vincent Trocheck hit for a shorthanded strike at 9:34 for a 4-3 lead to the Rangers.
The Flyers’ Owen Tippett waited for 2″11 to go by to tie the game, 4-4.
“We never backed down and we got a point out of it,” Tippett said. “We have a confident group.”
Lafreniere collected his double at 13:59 for a 5-4 lead.
“It was a show for sure for the crowd that was here,” Zibanejad said. “They enjoyed it with a win at the end.”
The Rangers, feeling generous, yielded a goal to Tyson Foerster at 16:28, scoring off a wandering puck in the crease.
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Samuel Ersson made 21 saves in the loss.
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