Top line reminds Carolina that the Rangers are No. 1

2011-12 Game No. 69; Home Game No. 33	Rangers' Record: 44-18-7
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
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GAME RECAP Associated Press Brad Richards scored twice and Martin Biron, a last-minute replacement for Henrik Lundqvist, made 27 saves as the Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Tuesday. The Blueshirts' top line had a stellar night. Marian Gaborik also scored, and Carl Hagelin had a goal and assisted on both of Richards' goals as they combined for four goals and nine points. Since that combination was put together three games ago, Richards has five goals following a 14-game stretch in which he scored only once. "I'm feeling a lot better," Richards said. "It's always nice when things go in. That helps how you feel and how you come to the rink. It's nice to help the team, and get rewarded for some of the plays we are making." Richards was supposed to be the center who would bring out the best in Gaborik. They didn't click at the start of the season, but that changed when they were reunited again for the first time since then. The rookie Hagelin joined the trio, and the line has been potent. "It's a lot of fun for me to be able to play with those two guys," Hagelin said. "Trading all the chances we had is a lot of fun. That's the feeling you want to have when you get on the ice, that if you do you're job defensively, you'll get your chances offensively." The victory extended the Rangers lead in both the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division to six points over Pittsburgh heading into a home game against the Penguins on Thursday. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STATS OF THE GAME The Rangers have now won six consecutive games at Madison Square Garden. They also completed their season series against Carolina with a 4-0-0 record, marking the first time since the 2002-03 season the Rangers swept the season series against the Hurricanes (4-0-0). THREE STARS (selected by the local media) 1. Richards 2. Hagelin 3. Gaborik

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THE BIGGER PICTURE With 44 wins through 69 games, the Rangers are on the brink of registering their most victories since the 1993-94 championship season and can break that team's record of 52 wins by taking nine of the last 13 games which would be consistent with their pace this year.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Staal (24:30) Shots -- Gaborik (6) Hits -- Bickel (3) Blocks -- Boyle, Fedotenko (4) Takeaways -- Stepan (2) Faceoffs -- Boyle (18)

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

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Stu Bickel
Steve Eminger	Anton Stralman
Goaltenders: Martin Biron, Chad Johnson Starting Lineup: Biron, Staal, Bickel, Hagelin, Richards, Gaborik.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Mats Zuccarello	Brian Boyle	Marian Gaborik
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	John Mitchell

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Brad Richards	Anton Stralman
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Boyle/Dubinsky
Ruslan Fedotenko	Artem Anisimov
Carl Hagelin	Derek Stepan

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Eminger/Bickel