Rangers close to clinching top seed
Rangers' Brian Boyle (22) celebrates with teammate Stu Bickel during the second period. (March 23, 2012) Credit: AP
When the Rangers host the Bruins Sunday night, they might be in a position to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Penguins, who trail the Rangers by five points with four games remaining for each, face the Flyers Sunday afternoon. A Pittsburgh loss of any kind coupled with a Rangers win would give the Rangers (50-21-7, 107 points) the Eastern Conference title and home-ice advantage throughout the conference playoffs for the first time since 1996.
The Rangers, who have won all three previous games against the Bruins, also could clinch the No. 1 seed with a Penguins loss in regulation and a point against Boston.
"Whatever happens can't influence how we're playing,'' said Marian Gaborik, who scored his 39th goal against the Canadiens on Friday night and has three goals against the Bruins. "We have to come out and play 60 minutes as we've done in the last few games."
Gaborik has a chance to become only the third Ranger with more than one 40-goal season, along with Mike Gartner, who had three, and Jean Ratelle.
"I didn't know about that," said Gaborik, who scored 42 goals for the Rangers two seasons ago. "But it would feel good to be in their company."
Henrik Lundqvist, (38-16-5, 1.91 GAA, .932 save percentage), who has started the last eight games and won six of them, is expected to start again. Tim Thomas (33-19-1, 2.38, .920) is expected to start for the Bruins.
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