Rangers rally to complete season sweep of Jets

[March 29, 2012]  WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- Ryan Callahan and Michael Del Zotto each had a goal and an assist, and the New York Rangers moved to the top of the NHL standings with a 4-2 victory over the fading Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.

Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan also scored, and Marian Gaborik added a pair of assists for the Rangers (49-21-7), who lead Pittsburgh by five points in the Eastern Conference. New York is tied with Western Conference-leading St. Louis with 105 points, but the Rangers have the edge because of one more non-shootout victory.

Spencer Machacek and Bryan Little scored for the Jets (35-34-9), who are 10th in the East with 76 points. Winnipeg went 0-4 against New York this season.

Buffalo is currently eighth in the East with 84 points, followed by Washington, which is two points behind.

Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves for the Rangers, who swept a two-game trip following a win at Minnesota on Tuesday. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 24 shots for Winnipeg.

The Jets have five games remaining, all against conference opponents. They will head out for a four-game road trip, starting at Carolina on Friday, and close out the regular season at home on April 7 against Tampa Bay.

Winnipeg is on its first three-game, home-losing streak of the season.

The Jets had all three power plays in a scoreless first period, including a two-man advantage for 1:44, and outshot the Rangers 11-4., but failed to score. They had another advantage 27 seconds into the second period on a boarding call against Boyle, but couldn't beat Lundqvist.

That changed soon after when Winnipeg connected for a pair of quick goals.

Machacek fired a shot between Lundqvist's pads at 3:58 and Little redirected a pass 56 seconds later for his 23rd goal of the season that made it 2-0.

The Rangers quickly responded with a short-handed goal and a power-play tally.

With New York center Brandon Dubinsky in the box for slashing, Callahan took the puck behind the net, spun around and sent a pass to Del Zotto in the slot. The defenseman put a low shot under Pavelec at 7:44.

While Jets forward Alex Burmistrov was off for holding, Callahan scored his 28th goal of the season at 18:23.

Winnipeg captain Andrew Ladd was assessed a double minor for high-sticking 30 seconds later, and New York opened the final period on the power play.

The Rangers had 15 shots in the second period, and the teams were even with 19 each through two periods.

Just after Ladd's penalty expired, Boyle scored the winning goal when he tucked the puck between the post and Pavelec's stick at 3:07 to make it 3-2. Stepan gave New York a two-goal edge during a power play at 10:06.

New York was 2 for 5 with the man advantage. Winnipeg was 0 for 5.

NOTES: The Rangers shut out the Jets both times Winnipeg visited New York this season. ... The Rangers, who will host Montreal on Friday, are the only Eastern Conference team the Jets haven't beaten this season.

[Associated Press]

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