Rangers-Flyers: Sean Avery Leads New York to 4-3 Win Over Philly

Sean Avery had the tying goal, at least three big hits, and he dropped his gloves at the end of the game as the New York Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3.

The rookie Brandon Dubinsky replaced captain Chris Drury and scored two goals for the Rangers. The Rangers finished the regular season with a three-game winning streak.

The Flyers lost the game and also lost home ice advantage in their upcoming playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Philadelphia Flyers were fighting for home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which might be essential in their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but could not win against the Rangers.

New York served notice, in their final game of the season, that their power play may be back in production.

They can get goals from lots of different players.

They can score more goals in a game than this season's record suggests.

And they can win on the road.

Dubinsky scored two goals, Sean Avery got his fifth as a Ranger this year, and Blair Betts scored his first goal in a long time.

The Rangers' first was the Avery line—with Sean Avery, Scott Gomez, and Nik Antropov. With Drury out, Dubinsky centred the Rangers' second line. Chris Drury had four points in the last two games to help the Rangers earn the No. 7 seed.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Claude Giroux five-and-a-half minutes into the first period. The Rangers were out-shooting the Flyers at the start of the game but Philadelphia got on the scoreboard first.

The Rangers tied it up with a rare power play goal, scored before the halfway point in the first period. Markus Naslund made a spin-o-rama pass to Derek Morris who slapped it at the net. It looked like his first goal as a Ranger but it was reviewed and given to Dubinsky.

On the Flyers' first power play, Carter scored goal No. 46 to make it 2-1 with seven minutes remaining in the first period.

Avery got a penalty for slashing shortly after the goal, but the Rangers got a short-handed goal when Dubinsky scored after Antropov drove to the net. It was Dubinsky's second goal of the night. Antropov and Morris got the assists.

That was the first short-handed goal scored against the Flyers this year.

Dubinsky had a 25-game goal-scoring drought this season, but has re-awakened under John Tortorella and with the new Rangers.

The score was tied 2-2 at the end of the first period. The Flyers out-shot the Rangers 14 to 11 but New York out-hit Philadelphia six to three.

The second period started with a good scoring chance by Avery, but the Flyers came back to score soon after to reclaim the lead. Daniel Briere scored the goal three minutes into the period.

Morris hooked Gagne to stop him from speeding in on the Rangers goal and the Rangers came close to scoring a second short-handed goal when Lauri Korpikoski put the puck over the net.

Avery drew a penalty by bothering Arron Asham until he cross-checked him, but the Flyers killed it. Richards got called for hooking and the Rangers had their third power play. The second period ended with the Flyers leading 3-2.

Avery used his speed to tie the game at the start of the third period. It was Avery's fifth goal as a Ranger this year. Ryan Callahan and Gomez got the assists.

Blair Betts got his first goal in 33 games to give the Rangers the lead for the first time in the game.

Avery was hit hard from behind by Joffrey Lupul at the buzzer to end the game, and dropped his gloves to take on the Flyers. Penalties were called after the game, with Avery getting two minutes for roughing, Lupul getting two minutes for boarding Avery, and Scott Hartnell getting four minutes for roughing.

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist picked up his 38th win this season, a career high.

Avery had at least three huge hits in this game. He was just one assist away from a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.

He finished the regular season with five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 18 games for the Rangers, and just 30 minutes in penalties.

The Rangers ended the season with two well-played victories in a row at home. New York clinched their fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Flyers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. That followed a 3-1 win on Tuesday over the Canadiens at MSG.
 
The Rangers have been very suspect on the road recently, going 4-12-3 in their last 19 games.

The New York Rangers end the season with a 42-30-9 record and the Philadelphia Flyers finish with 44-26-11. The Rangers face the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs and the Flyers will face the Pittsburgh Penguins.