Callahan's hat trick powers Rangers
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Everything seems to go right for the New York Rangers when they play the Philadelphia Flyers, even their anemic power play.
Ryan Callahan scored three goals and the visiting Rangers beat Philadelphia, 5-2, Saturday for their seventh consecutive victory against the Flyers.
Marian Gaborik and Artem Anisimov also had goals for the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers, who broke out of their power-play funk and improved to 5-0 against the Flyers this season -- including a win in the Winter Classic.
It was a rare display on special teams that catapulted the Rangers to their second victory against Philadelphia in seven days. New York had a season-high three goals on the power play.
"We felt it was coming," Callahan said. "We knew we had guys who can execute. It was a matter of getting some bounces."
New York increased its lead to six points over the Flyers in the Atlantic Division and have two games in hand.
"I was a little disappointed with the effort, actually," Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. "The emotional level, top team in the conference, league. It was a big game for us, and I was expecting more."
The Rangers entered with the fourth-worst power-play unit in the NHL, converting just 13.4 percent of their chances. They failed to score on their first man-advantage, but then got going when Callahan scored in the first period. New York capitalized on three consecutive opportunities with the man advantage.
"Special teams are huge," Gaborik said. "Hopefully we can take off from here."
Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds had Philadelphia's goals. The Flyers have lost four of five, and are losing their hold on fourth place in the East.
First Published February 12, 2012 12:00 am
