Despite two third-period goals by the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers were able to hold on for the 4-2 win in Madison Square Garden on Friday night. With the win, the Rangers take control of the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, which they share with the Flyers. Both teams are tied at 46 points.
The Rangers' four goals were all scored in the last two periods. They struck first when center Derek Stepan scored the game's first goal midway through the second period. Just five minutes later, left winger Ruslan Fedotenko scored on a goal that had to be reviewed. It was originally called a no goal but after a review, the puck clearly crossed the goal line before it was quickly bounced back out.
Rangers right winger Marian Gaborik scored before two minutes had passed in the third period to give New York a 3-0 lead. It began to look like Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was going to get his third shutout of the season but halfway through the third, Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros scored the team's first goal on a power play. The Rangers answered right back with their own power-play goal scored by right winger Ryan Callahan. The last goal of the game belonged to the flyers left winger James van Riemsdyk.
As the last seconds ticked off the clock, the Rangers held on to their 4-2 lead. The two teams will face each other again in Philadelphia on January 2 at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, for the 2012 NHL Winter Classic.