NEW YORK _ They won't get there themselves, but the Rangers still may have a say about who makes the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Much to the chagrin of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina entered Monday night's game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden six points out of a playoff berth, though with a game in hand on Columbus, which was occupying that second wild-card spot.
But the Rangers own the Hurricanes, especially at the Garden. Jimmy Vesey had his first career hat trick, including the game-winner with 7:45 remaining in the third period, and an empty-netter with 23.8 seconds to go, and Mats Zuccarello had two goals himself, including an empty-netter of his own with 2:37 left that was the 100th of his NHL career, to push the Rangers to a 6-3 victory.
The win was the Rangers' third in three games over the Hurricanes this season, and their 15th straight home win against Carolina. The Rangers and Hurricanes meet one more time this season, in Raleigh, N.C., on March 31.
Vesey's second goal of the game broke a 3-3 tie that had been forged when Victor Rask beat Alexandar Georgiev with a long shot through traffic on a power play at 8:23 of the third.
The victory didn't come without a cost for the Rangers, however. Defenseman Tony DeAngelo left the game midway through the second period after he slid awkwardly into the boards and appeared to injure his left knee. DeAngelo remained on the ice on all fours for several moments, unable to get up, as play continued. Finally, he got up and limped to the slot area before the referees stopped play. He was helped off the ice by a couple of teammates, went to the locker room and did not return.
