Rangers 5, Devils 2
Wojtek Wolski, Ryan McDonagh and Brandon Prust scored second-period goals as the New York Rangers seized the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 home victory over the New Jersey Devils in their final regular-season game Saturday afternoon.
Vinny Prospal recorded a goal and an assist, captain Chris Drury returned from a lengthy absence to score his first of the season and All-Star Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves for the Rangers, who went 6-1-1 in their final eight home contests and will face the top-seeded Washington Capitals in the conference quarterfinals.
The Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday evening and fell two points shy of the Rangers for the eighth seed.
Ilya Kovalchuk notched a goal and an assist, rookie Nick Palmieri also scored and Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots for the Devils, who lost their final five road games of the campaign and have dropped six of nine overall.
Trailing 2-1 after one period, New York scored three times in the second to take control. Wolski ended his 17-game goalless drought just 1:52 into the session and McDonagh beat Brodeur from the right faceoff circle with 8:01 remaining for his first career goal and a 3-2 edge.
Prust buried a rebound just over four minutes later for his 13th tally. Prospal increased the lead to 5-2 midway through the third.
Palmieri opened the scoring 2:03 into the contest, but Drury - making his first appearance since Feb. 3 against New Jersey due to a knee injury - scored his first of the season 71 seconds later. Kovalchuk tallied with 42 seconds left in the first to put the Devils ahead.