Blueshirts beat Isles to set up showdown with Flyers

Thursday, 12.22.2011 / 10:02 PM

2011-12 Game No. 32; Home Game No. 14

Rangers' Record: 20-8-4

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GAME RECAP

Associated Press

Brandon Dubinsky scored his first goal in more than a month, Marian Gaborik moved into a tie for the NHL lead with his 20th, and Martin Biron was solid in net to lead the Rangers to a 4-2 home victory over the Islanders on Thursday night.

Dubinsky staked the Rangers to a 1-0 lead in the first period, scoring for the first time in 17 games -- dating to Nov. 11 -- and Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto connected in the second for the Rangers, who have won three straight.

The Rangers will look to complete a back-to-back sweep Friday when they host Winter Classic foe Philadelphia in a matchup for first place.

Biron stopped 24 shots, as he gaveHenrik Lundqvist a break, and earned an assist on Dubinsky's second goal of the season. The Rangers are 5-2-1 in their past eight games. John Mitchell scored an empty-net goal with 1:33 remaining to seal it.

P.A. Parenteau got the Islanders even at 1-1 with a power-play goal just 18 seconds into the second, and Matt Moulson added a man-advantage goal 8:29 into the third, but it wasn't enough.

Dubinsky finally broke his long drought with an impressive rush up ice. He got by Parenteau at center ice and then charged into the Islanders end against defenseman Mark Streit. Dubinsky snapped a shot from the right side that beat Nabokov.
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PHOTO OF THE GAME

STAT OF THE GAME
The Rangers have registered at least one point in 19 of their last 24 games (17-5-2), and have out-scored their opponent, 79-52, during the stretch.

THREE STARS

(selected by the local media)

1. Del Zotto

2. Biron

3. Anisimov

THE BIGGER PICTURE
HBO stuff aside, the Rangers now have the Flyers right where they want them -- coming into The Garden for a game that could put the Blueshirts atop the Atlantic Division for the first time in nearly three yars. Should Boston lose, the Rangers would lead the East.

RANGERS LEADERS

Icetime -- Girardi (28:07)

Shots -- Richards (4)

Hits -- Boyle (5)

Blocks -- Girardi (3)

Takeaways -- Girardi, Stralman (2)

Faceoffs -- Stepan (19)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. ISLANDERS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Carl Hagelin	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Brandon Dubinsky	Brian Boyle	John Mitchell
Ruslan Fedotenko	Mike Rupp	Brandon Prust

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Tim Erixon	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist Starting Lineup: Biron, McDonagh, Girardi, Hagelin, Richards, Callahan.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Brad Richards	Marian Gaborik
Mike Rupp	Brandon Dubinsky	Artem Anisimov

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Derek Stepan
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Ryan Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Carl Hagelin	Ruslan Fedotenko

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman

26	SHOTS	25
28	FACEOFFS	35
32	HITS	22
17	PIM	17
2/3	PP	0/3
4	GIVEAWAYS	2
8	TAKEAWAYS	7
16	BLOCKED SHOTS	14