Last Night's Action: Things Are Tied Up

Rangers 3 Devils 2: For a team that went years without being able to beat the Devils, this year’s performance from the Rangers has been startling. Seven games, seven wins, 14 huge points and now both teams are tied with 91 points and five games to play.

It was a game of crazy bounces with the puck, benefiting both teams. Tied at one, Christian Backman committed a terrible turnover in his own end that led to an easy goal from Zach Parise that put New Jersey up 2-1. But, Backman found redemption early in the third period with a power-play goal of his own off of nice feeds from Gomez and Drury to tie things up.

And that’s where everything remained until a freaky play went the Rangers way. Nigel Dawes was up-ended on the way to the net and Chris Drury’s shot was deflected off a skate. Dawes’ sliding body collided with the puck and propelled it past Martin Brodeur for the game-winning goal. Now, both teams will have to fight for their playoff lives.

Pittsburgh 3 Islanders 1: Crosby and Hossa teamed up for the first time this year and the Penguins increased their Atlantic Division lead to six points.

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