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Gomez, Shanahan lead Rangers past Islanders

Sep 29, 2007 - 2:08 AM By Larry Fleisher PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Jaromir Jagr sat out, but Scott Gomez did not have any difficulties meshing with some other linemates.

Gomez had a goal and an assist and Brendan Shanahan scored twice as the New York Rangers scored four second-period goals en route to a 5-2 preseason victory over the New York Islanders in their final tuneup at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Martin Straka also scored and Petr Prucha added an empty-netter for the Rangers, who are 2-2-1 in the exhibition season.

The Rangers played without Jagr, who sat out with a hip flexor. The injury also is expected to keep the Rangers' captain out of Saturday's preseason finale in Philadelphia.

Gomez and linemates Shanahan and Nigel Dawes combined for eight points as the Rangers scored four goals in a span of just under 14 minutes.

Gomez, in his first season with the Rangers after seven with the New Jersey Devils, began the outburst on the power play by putting in his own rebound at 1:48 of the second period. He had been denied on a breakaway that was set up when Dawes forced a turnover but jammed the loose puck past goaltender Joey MacDonald.

Just over seven minutes later, Gomez made a nice cross-ice feed to Shanahan, who buried a 40-foot slap shot from the right faceoff circle nine minutes into the session for a 2-1 lead.

Straka scored on a deflection midway through the session and the 38-year-old Shanahan capped the scoring with the Rangers' second power-play goal with 5:13 remaining.

Henrik Lundqvist, who allowed nine goals in his previous two games, made 20 saves for the Rangers.

MacDonald stopped 21 of 23 shots for the Islanders before giving way midway through the second to Wade Dubielewicz, who finished with 14 saves. Rick DiPietro was among a handful of veterans who sat out for the Islanders, who fell to 2-3-2 with two games left in the preseason.

Sean Bergenheim and Trent Hunter tallied for the Isles.