The New York Rangers secured a playoff spot in dramatic fashion, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5 in overtime. The win marked the Rangers as the first NHL team to clinch a playoff berth this season.
Adam Fox played the hero, scoring the game-winning goal just 36 seconds into overtime with a wrist shot from the high slot. Alexis Lafreniere contributed two goals, while Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves in a thrilling contest.
The victory not only secured the Rangers' playoff spot but also gave coach Peter Laviolette his 800th career win. The Rangers now lead the league with 100 points, extending their Metropolitan Division lead to three points over the Carolina Hurricanes.
The game saw a wild third period with a total of seven goals scored between the two teams. Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, and Jonny Brodzinski also found the back of the net for the Rangers.
Despite a back-and-forth scoring affair, the Rangers managed to come out on top, winning their third straight game and improving their home record to 26-9-0.
Artemi Panarin reached a milestone with his 100th point of the season, becoming the seventh player in Rangers history to achieve this feat. Panarin has been a consistent performer for the team, recording points in 57 of the 72 games played.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will face the Colorado Avalanche next, while the Flyers will take on the Montreal Canadiens in their upcoming matchups.
With nine games remaining in the regular season, the Flyers will look to bounce back and secure a playoff spot of their own. The two teams are set to meet again on April 11 in New York for another exciting matchup.
