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Gaborik's OT goal lifts Rangers over Bruins

Jan 21, 2012 - 10:54 PM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Marian Gaborik scored his second goal of the game on a power play with 3.6 seconds left in overtime, lifting the New York Rangers over the Boston Bruins, 3-2, on Saturday.

The Bruins played the last three-plus minutes of overtime shorthanded after Andrew Ference's major and game misconduct for charging on Ryan McDonagh.

Still, they were able to keep the Rangers out of the net until a mad scramble in the final seconds, when Tuukka Rask made two quick glove saves but couldn't stop Gaborik's backhand flip from going in.

Ryan Callahan also scored for the Rangers while Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves on the day he was named an assistant captain for next week's All-Star Game.

With the win, New York moved two points ahead of Boston and into sole possession of the Eastern Conference lead.

"We played hard," said Rangers coach John Tortorella. "It was a game of momentum and it shifted back and forth. I thought both teams probably gave up more chances than they wanted to and we found a way to win."

Ference and Adam McQuaid had goals for Boston and Rask allowed three goals on 33 shots.

Ference dumped the puck into the New York zone and was chasing it behind the net when he ran into McDonagh from behind. The contact -- and his own momentum -- sent McDonagh crashing into the boards.

"It was one of the most dangerous hits I've seen in a while," said Tortorella, hinting that Ference should be fined or suspended. "Nothing has to be said as far as what should be done. It's a pretty easy call as far as I can see."

But Bruins head coach Claude Julien made a point to say Ference isn't a dirty player.

"No intent to injure there," he said of the hit.

Despite being down a man, the Bruins looked like they might force a shootout until Gaborik found himself in the right place for a loose puck in the slot, his 25th goal of the season.

The game's other four goals all came in the second period.

Callahan beat Rask from the left side to make it 1-0 New York 91 seconds in, and Ference tied the game less than two minutes later, making a quick deke to his backhand after taking a pass in the slot from David Krejci.

Gaborik's first goal was also a case of right place, right time when a New York pass deflected off Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and onto his stick for a slap shot.

McQuaid tied the game with 49 seconds left in the period when he flipped a shot through traffic and past Lundqvist from the right side.

Game Notes

The Rangers were 1-for-4 on the power play and Boston went 0-for-4...The Rangers play Winnipeg on Tuesday before getting six days off for the All-Star break...The Bruins have two games left -- at Philadelphia on Sunday and at Washington on Tuesday -- before the break.