NHL: Rangers slip past Thrashers in Playoff opener

Rangers lead series 1-0. (Best of Seven)

The New York Rangers scored the first two goals and never looked back, defeating the Thrashers before 18,857 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The game was the first in the best-of-seven series. Never since their inception into the NHL in 1997, have the Thrashers advanced to the playoffs until this season, and will have to wait for their first ever playoff victory. Despite a desperate last minute power play, Atlanta couldn't manage to beat Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who has shined this season. Lundqvist was solid again tonight, stopping 21 of 24 shots faced.

Pascal Dupuis of the Atlanta Thrashers was sent into the boards in the first period, and had to come off the ice for some time before returning to score the game's final goal. Kari Lehtonen, goaltender for the Thrashers entered the game with a 2.79 goals-against average. Lehtonen allowed four goals, while stopping 34 shots.

Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary No. Period Time Team Scorer (No.) Assists Score1 1st 12:50 NYR Jaromir Jagr (1) Michael Nylander, Fedor Tyutin 1-02 1st 16:47 NYR Michal Rozsival (1) PP Martin Straka, Jaromir Jagr 2-03 1st 19:01 ATL Eric Belanger (1) PP Niclas Havelid, Keith Tkachuk 2-14 2nd 10:52 NYR Marcel Hossa (1) Fedor Tyutin, Michael Nylander 3-15 2nd 12:19 ATL Shane Hnidy (1) Brad Larsen, Pascal Dupuis 3-26 2nd 16:56 NYR Michael Nylander (1) Petr Prucha, Thomas Pock 4-27 3rd 5:50 ATL Pascal Dupuis (1) Brad Larsen, Bobby Holik 4-3

Goaltending

Goaltending Team Player Shots Saves Save Pct. NYR Henrik Lundqvist 24 21 .875ATL Kari Lehtonen 38 34 .895

Three Stars of the Game

#1 = Jaromir Jagr, C, New York Rangers - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

#2 = Pascal Dupuis, LW, Atlanta Thrashers - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

#3 = Michael Nylander, C, New York Rangers - 1 Goal, 2 Assists