New York Rangers storm back from 3-0 deficit to defeat Boston Bruins, 5-3, take one step closer to playoffs

Trailing 3-0 halfway through the second period with their playoff hopes possibly on the line last night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers came back in dramatic fashion, erupting for five unanswered goals against the Boston Bruins for a 5-3 victory and an important two points in the standings. The team will make the playoffs, which start next week, if they win their final two games, or with a number of different combinations involving wins and losses by the 9th place Carolina Hurricanes.

Here’s the story of the comeback, in photos (by Avi Gerver, ©Madison Square Garden, L.P.).

New York’s Vinny Prospal kicks things off with a goal just past the halfway point in the game, cutting the deficit to 3-1:

Prospal once again celebrates with teammate Wojtek Wolski, who earned assists on both of his goals, after sending the Rangers into the second intermission down only 3-2:

The Rangers’ Brandon Dubinsky (lower right hand corner), teammates and fans erupt after Dubinsky ties the game 3-3 with less than four minutes to go in the game:

The team huddles around an unlikely hero, defenseman Michael Sauer (#38), after he scores his third goal of the season to put the Rangers up 4-3 less than a minute after Dubinsky tied it:

Derek Stepan celebrates after putting the nail in the coffin for the Bruins, scoring an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the 5-3 win for the Rangers:

Dubinsky shows his emotion after the dramatic win:

The Rangers salute the Garden crowd at center ice: