Rangers-Flyers: New York Defeats Philadelphia For Playoff Berth

On Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers (43-26-11) lost to the New York Rangers (42-30-9) by a score of 2-1 and helped the boys in blue clinch a playoff spot. The Rangers are in the playoffs for the fourth season in a row.

Goals by Markus Näslund and Ryan Callahan in the first period and saves by Henrik Lundqvist was what it took for the Rangers to get the win. They were the first, second, and third stars of the game.

The Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout. That means the Rangers are tied with the Canadiens for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Buffalo Sabres have been eliminated from playoff contention even though they beat the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes 5-1. The Florida Panthers were eliminated from the playoff race even though they beat the Atlanta Thrashers 3-2.

For the Rangers, Lundqvist had 37 saves for his 37th victory this year.

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

Chris Drury, Naslund, and 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 net and holding onto it. Avery lugged the puck down the left side, stopped, whistled a shot just in front of Biron and then battled behind the net to get it again.

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

In the second period, Martin Biron robbed Callahan, Drury, and Naslund.

Daniel Briere caught Henrik Lundqvist without his goalstick to make it 2-1 on a power play halfway through the period and the game. Lundqvist had been knocked off balance by Paul Mara.

In the third period, Avery blasted a shot at Biron on the first shift, annoying the Flyers' goalie. Naslund got a penalty for goaltender interference that the Rangers fans and coach John Tortorella were not happy with.

Lundqvist robbed Daniel Carcillo five minutes into the final period, coming up with a huge save to keep the Rangers ahead of the Flyers.

Chris Drury had two assists in the game after scoring two goals against Montreal in the last game.

The Rangers, under Tortorella, in 20 games, are 11-7-2.
With Avery, Antropov, and Morris, in 17 games, they are 10-6-1.

The Rangers won their 26th home ice victory for the first time since the 1980s.

The Rangers won their last game in MSG, 3-1 over the Montreal Canadiens, and their last game against the Flyers, 4-1.

Philadelphia is 19-14-7 on the road, and the Rangers are 26-11-4 at home.

The Rangers were paced by Avery's 3 goals in their last two games against the Flyers, and Nikolai Zherdev is 2-1-3 in four games against the Flyers.

The fourth-place Flyers, with 97 points, had already clinched a spot but can finish in fourth---and have a mathematical chance for third. Either position would provide home-ice advantage.

The Rangers are 3-2 versus the Flyers this season, with all the games decided in regulation.

Jeff Carter had four goals in the previous three games to become the 20th player in Flyers history to score 45 and the first since Simon Gagne had 47 in 2005-06. Carter has not scored in the last seven games against the Rangers and has only four goals in 27 career meetings.

The Rangers and Flyers meet again in Philadelphia on Sunday for their final game of the year.