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New-look Rangers continue playoff push vs. rival Islanders

Mar 5, 2009 - 11:16 AM NY Rangers (32-24-8) at NY Islanders (20-36-7), 7:00 pm EST

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers underwent significant changes during their four-day layoff.

The Rangers hope those moves will pay off when they visit the rival New York Islanders on Thursday.

Coming off their most impressive offensive performance of the season, the Rangers claimed controversial left wing Sean Avery off waivers a day before acquiring right wing Nik Antropov and defenseman Derek Morris in separate deals before Wednesday's trade deadline.

The Rangers snared Antropov, who has recorded 21 goals and 25 assists this season, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second-round and conditional pick. Morris came over from the Phoenix Coyotes for defenseman Dmitri Kalinin and left wings Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes.

The moves were made after the Rangers gave coach John Tortorella his first win with the franchise on Saturday. Scott Gomez scored a goal and set up two others as the club cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Islanders also made a notable move before the deadline, sending captain Bill Guerin to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Guerin had missed the Islanders' previous two games - both wins - because of the impending trade.