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NHL: Rangers take the honors in New York

New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro, left, makes a save from a shot by Scott Gomez of the New York Rangers during the second period of their NHL game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Chris Drury had a goal and assist during two power plays in the second period and the New York Rangers finally solved Rick DiPietro and the New York Islanders during a 4-2 victory on Thursday.

The Rangers had dropped all three previous meetings with their biggest rivals this season, scoring only four goals in the process and were 3-8-1 in the past 12 matchups dating to April 11, last year. DiPietro played in all but one of those games and allowed two goals or fewer eight times.

He finished with 27 saves while playing his 18th straight game. DiPietro has missed only one of the New York Islanders 23 contests.

Jaromir Jagr and Brandon Dubinsky added goals and Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves for the Rangers, who won for the second time in five games (2-2-1).

The Islanders' Miroslav Satan got credit for a goal in the second period during a wild scramble in front following a funny carom off the boards and Mike Comrie cut the Islanders' deficit to one late in the frame.

Jiri Hudler of the Detroit Red Wings, front, sneaks the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Marc Denis during the first period of their NHL game in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Predators 6, Senators 5

In Ottawa, Martin Erat scored with 22.2 seconds left to lift Nashville over Ottawa.

J.P. Dumont got his fourth point of the game on the play as he stripped the puck from Ottawa's Dean McAmmond and fed it to Erat, who beat Martin Gerber from the slot for his third point of the game.

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson had drawn Ottawa even for the fourth time in the game just 23 seconds earlier with his 17th goal.

Ottawa have lost five straight games. After racing to a 15-2 mark, the Senators are 1-4-2 in their last seven games.

Dumont, Dan Hamhuis, Greg de Vries, Ryan Suter, Martin Gelinas also scored for Nashville. Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, Joe Corvo and Antoine Vermette added goals for Ottawa.

Maple Leafs 4, Thrashers 2

In Atlanta, Mats Sundin scored his 13th goal and Nik Antropov had two assists to help Toronto beat Atlanta and end a four-game losing streak.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored his NHL-leading 20th goal 16 minutes, 20 seconds into the second, breaking an offensive drought for Atlanta that lasted seven-plus periods and covered 166 minutes.

In losing their third straight, the Thrashers never really threatened Toronto, who scored four goals for the first time in 14 games.

Andy Wozniewski, Matt Stajan and Alex Steen also scored for Toronto. Tobias Enstrom added a goal for Atlanta.

Bruins 4, Panthers 3

In Sunrise, Florida, defenseman Zdeno Chara scored two goals to lead Boston past Florida.

Boston won for the sixth time in eight games and also broke a six-game losing streak to the Panthers dating to Nov. 3, 2005.

Glen Metropolit and Phil Kessel also scored for Boston. Steve Montador, David Booth and Olli Jokinen scored for Florida. The loss snapped Florida's winning streak at a season-best four games.

Red Wings 4, Lightning 2

In Detroit, Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist and Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Kopecky and Dan Cleary also scored for NHL-leading Detroit.

Chris Osgood made 21 saves for the Red Wings. Brad Richards and Mathieu Darche scored for Tampa Bay, who lost their sixth straight.

Canucks 2, Blue Jackets 0

In Vancouver, British Columbia, Roberto Luongo made 26 saves for his third straight shutout, setting personal and Vancouver franchise records.

Luongo, who began the streak against Chicago and Anaheim, has not allowed a goal in 193 minutes, 56 seconds. He got some help from Brendan Morrison, who swept a dangerous loose puck away from the goal line with 17 seconds left.

Defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Lukas Krajicek scored for the Canucks, who after losing the first game in November -- and losing top defenders Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo to serious injuries the same night -- finished the month on a 9-1-2 run.
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