Lundqvist confounds Flyers

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 shots to record his fourth shutout of the season, as the New York Rangers topped the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-0, at Madison Square Garden.

Jaromir Jagr posted a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who have won four in a row and completed their six-game homestand with a 5-1-0 record. Brendan Shanahan added his fourth goal of the season.

Martin Biron turned in a spectacular performance in the loss, making 43 saves for the Flyers, who have lost four of six and have not scored in their last two trips to Manhattan.

Lundqvist also recorded a 5-0 shutout win over Philadelphia on March 21.

The Flyers continued a recent trend of early lethargic play, allowing the Rangers to take control of the game in the opening period. Biron was stellar, stopping 21 shots to keep the visitors in the contest.

The Rangers did net the game's first goal, though. In a 4-on-4 situation, Jagr unleashed his trademark blazing snapshot from the left circle over Biron's glove with 33 seconds left in the first.

Lundqvist made the one-goal margin hold up when he stopped the Flyers' best chance in the second period, beating Scottie Upshall with the glove on a short-handed breakaway midway through.

He continued to keep Philly off the board in the third, stretching out to make a diving pad stop against the right post on Joffrey Lupul's shot from in close with a little more than five minutes remaining.

Shanahan then added a power-play blast with 3:21 left in the game for insurance, and the Rangers climbed within one point of first place in the Atlantic Division.