Thrashers Stun Rangers at Home, Put Playoff Chances into Flux

The New York Rangers lost control of their playoff destiny tonight. Rob Schremp and Andrew Ladd scored twice in 15 seconds, and the Atlanta Thrashers carried the game the rest of the way, beating New York 3-0 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. The Rangers, who suffered a deflating loss, eighth-place lead on Carolina remains only two points, and now the Hurricanes have a game in hand against these same Thrashers tomorrow night.

New York was fierce out of the gate. Ondrej Pavelec was very good and weathered an early storm. Atlanta did not get a shot until 6:20 into the first period. Once they did, however, the Thrashers starting coming on in their own right, taking the game to the Rangers. Evander Kane came closest for the Thrashers or either team, hitting the post mid-way through the period, and then getting a break with less than 30 seconds to go, only to be denied by Henrik Lundqvist, who made a wonderful save.

Rob Schremp scored the game’s first goal at 7:42 of the 2nd period. After Dustin Byfuglien set the former Islander forward up for a solid backhand chance that Henrik Lundqvist stopped, Schremp took a great, cross-ice pass from recently called up rookie Andrey Zubarev (who got is first National Hockey League point) to make it 1-0. It was Schremp’s 13th of the season.

Andrew Ladd followed up on the very next rush, broke through the defense after poking the puck away from Dan Girardi, and backhanded it by Henrik Lundqvist at 7:57 of the 2nd. It was Ladd’s team-leading 28th goal of the season. The defense tandem of Girardi and Marc Staal looked very vulnerable on that. The Thrashers came close to a third on a 4-on-4 turnover that set Byfuglien free, but Lundqvist made a great save.

The Rangers started the third with a power play, but were unable to capitalize. They went 0-for-4 for the night, though two of the power plays were shortened by the Rangers taking penalties of their own. The Thrashers went 0-for-2 on the man advantage.

Eric Boulton made it 3-0 Thrashers early in the third. After a great save by Pavelec through a screen, Johnny Oduya rushed up the ice. Oduya found a breaking Eric Boulton at the front of the net, and he simply directed it past Lundqvist to make it a three-goal Thrasher lead at 4:19. The Rangers had a couple of chances from there, but the Thrashers aggressive defense was able to shut them down, and solid goaltending held off New York’s final push in the waning minutes.

Ondrej Pavelec was terrific for Atlanta, as he held off many spurts by the Rangers and made 28 saves. Henrik Lundqvist, despite losing, was pretty good, making 23 saves. Atlanta heads back home to take on Carolina, who can now tie the Rangers for eighth with a win. The Rangers finish the season with a must-win home game against New Jersey.