Rangers Take First Period Lead Against the Flyers

The New York Rangers scored in the first minute and now lead the Philadelphia Flyers 2 to 0 at the end of the first period.

The Florida Panthers trail the Atlanta Thrashers and the Boston Bruins lead the Montreal Canadiens, so everything is going the way the Rangers want it.

With a Rangers win, they will clinch a playoff spot—with a Rangers win and a Canadiens loss, New York will jump over Montreal into seventh place and with a Rangers win and losses by the Canadiens and Panthers, New York will move up and leave Florida behind, out of the playoff picture.

The Flyers did the Rangers a favor earlier this week by beating the Florida Panthers, putting them out of the playoff picture as the Rangers moved out of a tie with them and into eighth place.

The Rangers starting lineup was the Avery Line with Sean Avery, Scott Gomez and Nik Antropov. Their second line scored on their first shift of the game.

Chris Drury, Markus Naslund and Ryan Callahan all crashed the net and the goal was reviewed but judged "a good goal" and given to Naslund. Assists went to Drury and Callahan.

It was Naslund's 24th goal of the season.

The goal came in the first minute of the game, on the Rangers second shot, before the Flyers had their first shot.

The Flyers started a couple of fights right after the Rangers first goal. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties went to Scott Hartnell and Derek Morris.

It looked like Derek Morris got his first goal as a Ranger after Avery did a tremendous job picking up the puck behind the neck and holding onto it.

The goal was awarded to Ryan Callahan with assists given to Morris and Chris Drury. It was Callahan's 22nd of the season.