Rangers 3 - 2 Wild
Final
  for this game

Fedotenko nets winner as Rangers edge Wild

Mar 28, 2012 - 3:12 AM St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Ruslan Fedotenko scored the game-winner in the third period and the New York Rangers beat the Minnesota Wild, 3-2, on Tuesday night to increase their lead atop the Atlantic Division.

Marian Gaborik scored for the first time against his former team, Brian Boyle also netted a goal for the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves in the win.

New York's 103 points are three more than the Penguins for first place in the division -- and the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh lost to the Islanders at home Tuesday night.

"We don't really care about them," said Lundqvist. "I'm happy with the way we played."

Kyle Brodziak and Mikko Koivu had power play goals for the Wild, who have lost 11 of their last 14, and Josh Harding gave up three goals on 32 shots.

Ryan McDonagh set up Fedotenko's go-ahead goal, which came with 6:23 left in the game. His pass from the left boards fluttered through the left circle, then the slot and landed on his teammate's stick for a one-timer on the low right side.

Wild head coach Mike Yeo was less than pleased with his team's effort on the play and wondered how it could have happened.

"I'm not in a very good mood right now," said Yeo. "We gave them a freebie in a 2-2 game. We gave them a tap-in and that can't happen."

Earlier, Boyle scored after a flurry in front of the Wild net to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 11:23 in the first period. Harding was held up, so defenseman Nate Prosser was on his knees in net but unable to block the shot.

Brodziak tied the game on a power play 3:05 into the second period, jamming in a loose puck despite being surrounded by three Rangers. But Gaborik gave New York a 2-1 lead 4:53 later when he stickhandled to his forehand in the slot and beat Harding.

Gaborik signed with Rangers in 2009-10 after eight seasons with the Wild, but was facing his former team for just the second time, having missed two of New York's previous three games versus Minnesota due to injury.

The Wild tied the game around four minutes after Gaborik's goal on a power play when Koivu scored from one knee after the puck caromed to him on the right side.

Game Notes

The Rangers are 2-0 on a three-game road trip that finishes in Winnipeg on Wednesday...The Wild, who were already mathematically eliminated from making the playoffs, opened a three-game homestand that continues against Florida on Thursday.






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