Lundqvist Stops 48 Shots and Saves 2 Precious Points for Rangers

With every point crucial in their battle with the Islanders and the Devils for the final two playoff berths in the East, these were 2 points the Rangers needed to bank. And they did, with a 4-1 victory over a Carolina team that turned out to be far from a pushover.

Henrik Lundqvist saved the Rangers, stopping a season-high 48 shots, and a three-goal burst in the second period allowed them to come away with their third victory in four games. Derek Stepan, Ryan Callahan and Rick Nash scored in the decisive second period, with Brian Boyle adding an empty-net goal in the final second of the game.

The Rangers and the Islanders remained tied in points in the race for the final two playoff spots. They each have 42 points, but the Rangers are in seventh because they hold a tiebreaker. The Islanders defeated Tampa Bay, 4-2, on Saturday. The Devils fell 3 points back after a 2-1 loss to Toronto.

Lundqvist had 14 saves for the Rangers in what could have been a disastrous first period, and he kept the Hurricanes from coming back in the third with 20 more saves. He has allowed two goals or fewer in each of the last 10 games.

“That’s the best I’ve seen him play since I’ve been here,” Rangers Coach John Tortorella said. “He stole us one. I thought we had a good second period, but first and third we were nowhere to be found.”

Perhaps, but the Rangers seem to have found their game of late. That is at least in part because of the recent additions of Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and John Moore.

“It’s a different atmosphere in the room,” Lundqvist said. “Not only did we get some really skilled players, but it changed the dynamic in the room where you get the new guys.”

He added, “It’s just a lot better feeling in here.”

The Rangers scored twice in 31 seconds early in the second period to pull away. Brad Richards set up Stepan in the slot, and he broke a scoreless tie with a power-play goal two minutes into the period. Moments later, Carolina goalie Dan Ellis was caught out of the net trying to play the puck along the end boards. Nash poked it away, sending it to Callahan in front for an easy goal into the open net.

Nash added a power-play goal at 11 minutes 19 seconds when he stickhandled through the slot, turned around and wristed a low shot past Ellis.

The Rangers were 2 of 5 on the power play.

“We knew they were coming and we didn’t weather it too well in the first, but we did create some chances, too,” Richards said. “The second, it was important to bury some goals and we did, and then Hank took us home.”

Lundqvist lost his shutout bid when Zac Dalpe buried a one-timer from the slot at 9:27 of the third. It was the only blemish on a busy, busy night.

“I’m just so tired I don’t know what to say right now,” Lundqvist said. “I’m exhausted.”

Slap Shots

Hurricanes centers Eric and Jordan Staal are now wearing visors on their helmets after the injury to their brother Marc Staal, the Rangers defenseman who has been out since March 5 after a puck hit him near the right eye. The Staals had resisted wearing visors, but put them on for the first time March 26 against Winnipeg. … The Hurricanes’ Alexander Semin was out with an upper-body injury. … Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto did not face league discipline for what he called an inadvertent elbow to the jaw of Pittsburgh wing James Neal on Friday in the Penguins’ 2-1 shootout victory. Neal was dazed by the blow and did not return to the game. Del Zotto said Saturday morning that he had not been contacted by the N.H.L. for a disciplinary hearing, and he was in the lineup Saturday night.