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Rangers look to complete sweep of Thrashers

Apr 18, 2007 - 2:26 PM Atlanta at NY Rangers 7:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference quarterfinals NY Rangers lead, 3-0

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers have given the Atlanta Thrashers a lesson in playoff hockey.

The Rangers can complete a sweep of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with a victory here on Wednesday night.

New York took a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the series with a 7-0 rout on Tuesday night. Michael Nylander recorded a hat trick and Henrik Lundqvist made 21 saves for his first career playoff shutout. Ryan Callahan added a pair of goals and Jaromir Jagr had three assists.

This is the Thrashers' first-ever playoff experience.

Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen, who was benched for Game Two by coach Bob Hartley after allowing four goals in Game One, allowed three goals on 13 shots in the opening period and the Thrashers never recovered. Lehtonen played the entire game, stopping 28 shots.

The Rangers last won a playoff series in 1997 when they beat the New Jersey Devils, four games to one, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

New York has not swept a playoff series since victimizing the New York Islanders in the conference quarterfinals in 1994 en route to the Stanley Cup title.