The Nets got as close as a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but they simply couldn’t get over the hump. Vince Carter had 32 points in the loss.

Rangers 4, Islanders 1: Two days after having their dramatic rally ruined in a shootout, the Rangers crushed the Islanders, 4-1, and continued their surge at the season's most critical times. They drew Wade Dubielewicz in goal -- Rick DiPietro had missed too much time following the death of his grandmother -- but most goalies would have had trouble Thursday. The Rangers led this one 89 seconds into the game on a Brendan Shanahan goal. Sean Avery may have broken off contract negotiations. but he's also breaking off great slapshots from the slot. Scott Gomez also scored, and Avery enjoyed the stat-padder of all stat-padders, an empty-netter in a game already decided. Sean Bergenheim had the Islanders' only goal. more ›

• Islanders 4 Rangers 3 (Shootout): This was not a game for fans of goaltenders. Henrik Lundqvist was terrible, Wade Dubielewicz was too but better when it counted and the Islanders prevailed in a sloppy game. more ›

Sean Avery, placed on the top line with Gomez and Jagr got things started with a goal at 12:12 of the first period. Brandon Dubinsky scored a few minutes later and the Rangers never looked back. Jaromir Jagr capped the scoring in the third period with some hard work and a nice assist from Martin Straka who handed Jagr a replacement stick after he broke his original one. more ›

Islanders 4, Hurricanes 1: New Year's revelers that had to leave the game early in Raleigh didn't miss much last night, because all the scoring in the Islanders victory over the Hurricanes came in the 2nd period. When the Islanders scored, they did most of it in a flurry and on the power play. Three goals came in a 3:39 stretch (on four shots!) and three of their four goals came on the power play. Marc-Andre Bergeron led the scoring with 2 goals and an assist and Mike Comrie extended his points streak to four games with 2 assists. Wade Dubielewicz, who stopped 28 or 29 shots, won his 2nd start in a row for the Islanders, who have won 5 of 6. more ›

But Dubielewicz doesn't deserve all the blame. Ottawa has plenty of talent and the highest points total in the Eastern Conference. After stonewalling to a scoreless first period, the Senators put up three goals in the middle session to suck the drama out of this one. Bill Guerin scored both Islanders goals, with the second coming in garbage time. more ›

Rangers 5 Ottawa 2: The Senators may be in a funk of late, but they still have the best record in the Eastern Conference. That may not last for too much longer as the Rangers beat Ottawa soundly Saturday afternoon, scoring three goals in the first period and forcing a goaltending change. Everything seemed to work for New York as the power play scored twice, Brendan Shanahan had two goals and Blair Betts even got... more ›

Jagr and Rozsival put the Rangers up 2-0 in the first before Eric Belanger cut the lead in half. The Rangers opened another two-goal lead in the second when Marcel Hossa made it 3-1, but Shane Hnidy cut the lead to 1 again midway through the period. more ›

• Islanders 3 Rangers 2 (Shootout): Their playoff hopes may be on life-support, but at least the Islanders didn’t have to see their arch-rivals clinch their own spot in the postseason in person. more ›

The win leaves the Rangers in the seventh spot with four games left. Their margin for error remains razor-thin with two points separating them from the ninth-place team, Toronto, who visit MSG tonight. more ›

Carolina’s loss leaves them with 78 points, tied with the Islanders and two ahead of the Rangers in the very tight Eastern Conference. The Devils moved to within two of Buffalo for the conference lead. more ›