NEW YORK (NY) – After going 0-5-3 in their last eight home games, the New York Rangers finally won a game. Their 47th win of the year secured at least the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs as Henrik Lundqvist stopped 20 of 23 shots in a 4-3 win at Madison Square Garden.
“Sometimes when you’re right in it there are so many things you want to work on and do better, but when you take a step outside and look at the big picture it’s a 100-point season and a lot of good things for this group,” Lundqvist said.
The win eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers from playoff contention.
After a scoreless first period, Valtteri Filppula got the Flyers on the board with his 11th goal of the season after a slip up by the Rangers defense. The goal came just 33 seconds into the second period.
The Rangers replied with a power-play goal from Mika Zibanejad just three minutes later when a wrist shot from the left circle beat Anthony Stolarz. The goal was Zibanejad’s 13th of the year.
Defenseman Brendan Smith got his first goal as a New York Ranger moments later from a beautiful feed off Mats Zuccarello. Coming down on a 3-on-2 Zuccarello was able to find Smith’s stick off the rush who was able to take it on his forehand and quickly pull to his right and go top shelf off his back hand.
The Rangers pulled away in the third period with two unanswered goals from Oscar Lindberg and Chris Kreider just two minutes apart.
“Important in so many ways here to get this win,” Lundqvist said.
The Flyers scored two goals at 17:54 from Brayden Schenn and at 18:45 with Flipplua’s second but weren’t able to secure the fourth goal.
“Everybody emptied the tank in the last few minutes,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said.
The Rangers next game will be in America’s capital on Wednesday at 8pm on NBC Sports.
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