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Jagr, Lundqvist help Rangers punch postseason ticket

Apr 4, 2008 - 4:30 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Jaromir Jagr's quick striking ability helped the New York Rangers clinch a third straight postseason berth.

Jagr scored two power-play goals in a span of 1:59 in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 shots as the Rangers posted a 3-0 victory over the cross-town rival New York Islanders on Thursday.

Martin Straka had a goal and an assist while Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Michal Rozsival each set up a pair of tallies for the Rangers (42-27-11), who have won three straight and still are in the hunt for home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

"Not taking anything for granted, making the playoffs is expected," Rangers All-Star center Scott Gomez said. "It is an honor to make the playoffs. Our goal is to bring the Stanley Cup back to New York."

"It's a relief (to reach the playoffs)," Rangers head coach Tom Renney said. "We have a spot, but we have work to do to finish with the highest seed that we can."

The Rangers trail the idle New Jersey Devils (45-2-87) by two points for fourth place in the East. The Rangers host the Islanders on Friday and visit the Devils for the season finale on Sunday.

"We are a good home team, but it is not the end of the world if we can't get it," Lundqvist said. "We will try to get it."

Jagr, who has five goals in his last six games, quickly gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the first.

"It's not like I'm not trying," Jagr said of one of his worst offensive seasons. "No matter how good you are, you need the puck to score. ... I have played the same all year. Even though I scored two goals, I do not think I was better than I was two weeks ago."

"He should feel good," Renney said. "The other parts of his game have been good. At times, people like Jagr equate success with whether or not they are scoring."

The captain opened the scoring when he fired a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle off the near goalpost and past netminder Wade Dubielewicz with 6:09 to go in the opening period.

Jagr's 23rd tally of the season came just 1:59 later and nearly was identical to the first. Jagr drifted into the right circle and one-timed a pass from Dubinsky past Dubielewicz with 4:10 left for a 2-0 lead.

Jagr provided more than enough offense for Lundqvist, who stopped six shots in the first period, 12 in the second and seven in the third to record his league-leading 10th shutout of the season and 17th career.

Lundqvist was more interested in discussing his team's accomplishment than his own.

"It feels great to be in the playoffs again," Lundqvist said. "You never know what can happen with three games to go. You might as well get it over with. (The Islanders) came hard. They came with a lot of energy. They are a young team with a lot of guys playing for their jobs next year. It was a very solid game from all the guys."

Straka capped the scoring with a slap shot from the slot at 7:39 of the third.

Dubielewicz turned aside 32 shots for the Islanders, who have lost four straight (0-3-1).

"The effort was there," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. "You look at the experience of one team against the other, (and) you are going to have these types of moments."