Rangers Are Back in Playoffs

Kevin Weekes turned boos into cheers Tuesday night, lifting the New York Rangers into the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

The backup goalie, playing in place of injured Henrik Lundqvist, stopped Peter Forsberg and Michal Handzus in the shootout after making 21 saves to give the Rangers a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden.

Michael Nylander scored in regulation and the shootout, and Martin Straka added a goal for the Rangers. New York stretched its Atlantic Division lead over the Flyers to three points. Each team has seven games left.

Once the Rangers got into overtime, the NHL’s longest active playoff drought ended.

Boos rained on Weekes when New York’s 1-0 lead turned into a 2-1 deficit by the end of the second period. But he held his ground in the third, made several key saves -- including breakaway stops -- and heard his name cheered.

*

Montreal 5, Boston 3 -- The Canadiens, who beat the Bruins on Saturday to eliminate them from playoff contention, won at Montreal and tied New Jersey for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 87 points. Montreal has won seven in a row.

*

Minnesota 5, St. Louis 4 -- Brian Rolston scored the winning goal and rookie goaltender Josh Harding stopped two of three shots in the Wild’s shootout victory at St. Paul, Minn.