Rangers Clinch Playoff Spot As Jagr Nets Two Goals

Jaromir Jagr scored two powerplay goals in a 2-minute span of the first period, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 shots, and the Rangers clinched an Eastern Conference playoff berth with a 3-0 victory over the Islanders last night.

The Rangers entered a home-and-home series against their arch-rivals knowing the Islanders would enjoy nothing more than to derail their postseason plans. Jagr made sure early on that it wouldn't happen.

He connected for goals 1:59 apart against goalie Wade Dubielewicz, and Martin Straka pushed the Rangers' lead to 3–0 at 7:39 of the third. Lundqvist made the offense stand up, earning his 10th shutout of the season and 17th in the NHL. In 90 career games against the Islanders, Jagr has 58 goals and 81 assists. No one has scored more goals versus the Islanders, and Jagr hasn't taken advantage any team nearly as much.

That had a large chunk of visiting Rangers fans at Nassau Coliseum derisively chanting "Season's Over" to the Islanders, who have long been eliminated from the postseason chase.

The Rangers are fifth in the East and still have their sights on the fourth-place New Jersey Devils and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. New York is two points behind with two games to play, and the area rivals will close the regular season against each other Sunday in New Jersey.

The Rangers are in the playoffs for the third straight year.

It marked the second straight home game for the Islanders that an opponent secured a playoff spot. The Devils got in with an overtime victory Tuesday. New York prevented Pittsburgh from clinching on Long Island last week.

Jagr picked on his favorite opponent, and the Rangers captain needed a total of only 28 seconds of power-play time to post his second two-goal game of the season.