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Rangers roll over Islanders as Jagr breaks points record

Posted on: Thursday, 30 March 2006, 01:00 CST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jaromir Jagr played his way into the New York record books on Wednesday, notching four assists in the Rangers 5-1 win over cross-town Islanders to set the club's single-season points record.

Jagr, who started the game tied for the record with Hall of Famer Jean Ratelle on 109 points, assisted on four straight goals to set a new mark at 113.

Jagr's assist on Petr Prucha's powerplay goal at 7:23 in the first broke Ratelle's record set in the 1971-72 season. Jagr is also tied with Adam Graves for the club's single-season goals record on 52.

"It's a big honor for me," Jagr told reporters. "I'm just glad I did it in the first period."

Jagr went on to assist on three straight goals by Martin Straka to help the Rangers take a 4-0 lead before Alexei Yashin scored the lone Islanders goal with just three seconds left in the second period.

Blair Betts then completed the scoring for the Rangers at 14:50 of the third.

The win moved the Rangers four points ahead of the idle Philadelphia Flyers in the Atlantic Division standings.

Finishing first in the division would give the Rangers a higher seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, probably the No. 3 seed, while finishing second would likely result in a first round match-up against the Buffalo Sabres.

The Rangers outshot the Islanders 22-19, with Henrik Lundqvist having a relatively easy night, making just 18 saves.

That was enough to give the rookie goalie his 30th win of the season, setting a club record for wins by a first-year goalie.

BIG NUMBER

"It's a big number for me, especially in my first season," Lundqvist told reporters.

"We played a very good game tonight and that's good with the playoffs coming along."

Rick DiPietro made 17 saves in goal for the Islanders, who saw their slim playoff hopes fade further. The Islanders trail the eight-seeded Canadiens by 10 points.

In Buffalo, J.P. Dumont scored twice as the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 4-3. Maxim Afinogenov and Chris Drury scored the other goals for the Sabres, while Ryan Miller made 24 saves.

David Tanabe, Brad Stuart and Marty Reasoner scored for the Bruins.

In Raleigh, Matt Bradley scored twice as the Washington Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1. Brian Willsie, Alexander Ovechkin and Chris Clark scored for the Capitals, while Brent Johnson made 49 saves.

Rod Brind'Amour scored for the Hurricanes.

In Pittsburgh, Rostislav Olesz scored the game-winning goal at 10:34 of the second period as the Florida Panthers kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Penguins 5-3.

In Dallas, Niko Kapanen scored the game-winning goal at 17:05 in the second period as the Stars beat Anaheim 2-1.

In Calgary, Jarome Iginla scored a shorthanded game winner in the second period as the Flames beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)

Source: REUTERS

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