New York Rangers top Montreal Canadiens 4-1 to solidify Eastern Conference lead

The New York Rangers won their 4th straight game last night, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 at Madison Square Garden. Their 50th win of the season, a signature milestone of elite teams, puts them in first place in the NHL and gives them a 5-point lead in the Eastern Conference. For you non-hockey types, that’s sorta the basketball or baseball equivalent of a 2 1/2 game lead in the standings. If the Rangers win their remaining four regular season games (or simply win as many games as the Blues, Canucks and Penguins), they’ll win the Presidents Trophy, a prize awarded each year to the team with the best record. But the true goal for any of the league’s 30 teams is the Stanley Cup, and the Rangers should feel good about their chances behind star goalie Henrik Lundqvist and a healthy roster of productive forwards and shutdown defensemen. They’re on the verge of clinching home ice for the first round of the playoffs, and if they do, they’ll play Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden on April 12th and 14th.

New York’s Brandon Dubinsky shoots on Montreal goalie Carey Price and defenseman Chris Campoli. Photo by Avi Gerver, ©Madison Square Garden, L.P.