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Rangers can clinch playoff spot with win

Apr 3, 2007 - 3:49 PM NY Rangers (41-29-9) at NY Islanders (36-30-12) 7:30 pm EDT

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

It would be the second straight playoff trip for the Rangers under coach Tom Renney.

The Rangers are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They are four points ahead of Toronto (38-30-11) and five points ahead of Carolina (39-32-8), who are in the ninth and 10th spots.

Tampa Bay (43-32-4) is one point behind the Rangers. Montreal (41-32-6) is three points behind the Rangers.

After losing the first four meetings with the Islanders this season, the Rangers bounced back to win the last three.

Sean Avery scored two goals and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 shots in the Rangers' 7-2 win over Toronto on Sunday.

The Islanders have lost four straight to virtually fall out of the playoff picture. A regulation loss and a win by Montreal over Boston on Tuesday would eliminate the Islanders from postseason contention.

Goaltender Rick DiPietro remains sidelined with post-concussion syndrome. Wade Dubielewicz made his first start since January 26, 2006 in last Saturday's 5-2 loss to Ottawa.

"You come down to the stretch run, every sport loses people," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said. "You still have to have the heart and desire to play this game. If you don't, you don't need those type of athletes on this team."