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BOSTON -- For as much as John Tortorella’s postgame news conferences have become a bit of a caricature -- often marked by his abrasive, confrontational and sometimes boorish demeanor -- he was sincere in claiming responsibility after his team’s season-ending defeat.

Following the Rangers’ 3-1 loss to the Bruins in Game 5, Tortorella offered up a lot of reasons the team struggled, both during the game, the series and the entire lockout-shortened season. But he put the onus squarely on himself, too.

One of the Rangers’ most glaring deficiencies was the underwhelming performances by some of the team’s top players. He placed the blame on himself.

"I think one of the big things in this series is I could not -- and it does, it falls on me -- it’s a big part of my job to get your top players to play consistently, and I couldn’t do that," Tortorella said.

The most obvious inability to make that happen came with struggling center Brad Richards, who won a Stanley Cup under Tortorella in 2004 while with the Tamps Bay Lightning.

Richards’ play deteriorated to such a degree that he was demoted to the fourth line then ultimately scratched for the last two games.

But, he was not alone in failing to step up.

Joining the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner in a disappointing playoff performance was newcomer Rick Nash, who notched only one goal in his first postseason as a New York Ranger.

The premier winger, acquired in a blockbuster trade with Columbus this past summer, was ineffective in both the team’s series against Washington and Boston.

The 28-year-old Nash was limited to just five points in 12 games and he didn’t score his first goal of the 2013 playoffs until Game 3 of Round 2. In Game 5 on Saturday, he didn’t get a shot on goal until the third period. Nash didn't even respond when Boston's Milan Lucic tried to bully him with a brutish few shoves to the chest; he just skated away with no response.

"It’s heartbreaking," Nash said in a brief postgame interview. "We have a good team, good season, and we just couldn’t get the job done."

Though he battled through a lingering wrist issue since midseason, he insisted he wasn’t dealing with an injury.

He clearly was one of those players Tortorella couldn’t get enough from.

"We tried, and so I need to take some responsibility and try to get them in those spots to help us here. I thought that hurt us a little bit," Tortorella said.

Even captain Ryan Callahan wasn’t the same type of tone-setting sparkplug or offensive catalyst his team has come to expect, though he had two goals during the playoffs.

Callahan had one of the best scoring opportunities of the game for the Rangers, but his backhanded breakaway attempt went wide.

"It sucks," Callahan said. "There’s no worse feeling than this. We had a good team this year. It’s frustrating."

BOSTON -- Rick Nash's first goal of the 2013 playoffs -- and his first as a New York Ranger -- came as little solace following the team's 5-2 loss Sunday to the Bruins in Game 2.

"We lost the game and that's pretty much the only thing on my mind," Nash said.

Nash, whose line has been matched up against Zdeno Chara through the first two games, beat the hulking Bruins defenseman before streaking to the net and scoring on goaltender Tuukka Rask to tie the game 2-2 in the second period.

Nash's goal erased a one-goal Bruins lead that was built on Gregory Campbell's backhander 56 seconds prior.

But the equalizer was rendered moot when the Bruins broke open the game in the third.

The Rangers, and Nash, had chances on the power play to get back into the game but they couldn't convert.

The unit failed to cash in on all five man-up opportunities Sunday. The Rangers are now 0-for-8 on the power play this series and 2-for-36 this playoffs.

The power play did show some promise, however, in contrast to the feeble attempts in previous games.

"Our power play was better tonight," coach John Tortorella said. "Didn't score, but it was better."

Carl Hagelin even made a brief appearance with the team's second unit. On Saturday, Tortorella said the speedy winger "stinks" on the power play because he's "too quick" and acts like a "jitterbug."

Those sort of colorful quotes are what makes Tortorella such an intriguing character at times. But NBC learned the hard way that he is not always the friendliest choice for live television.

During a first-period intermission interview with NBC's Pierre McGuire, Tortorella swore while talking about captain Ryan Callahan's goal.

WASHINGTON -- Amid the excitement and nerves of Game 1 Thursday night, Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello hopped over the boards prematurely and incurred a bench minor for too many men on the ice just 34 seconds into play.

It was a simple mistake, easily chalked up to some playoff jitters, and it didn’t end up hurting the Rangers. But it was a harbinger of things to come, as the Blueshirts took five more penalties in their 3-1 loss to the Capitals.

"I think the biggest thing we learned is that we have to stay disciplined,” Rick Nash said after practice Friday. “We can’t let them have six power plays.”

The Capitals actually had just five power plays, but they tallied on their fourth with fourth-liner Arron Asham in the box for an illegal check to the head.

Alex Ovechkin capitalized on Mike Green’s shot that caromed off the kick-boards to tie the score at 1-all in the second period, a surge that sparked a run of three unanswered goals for the Capitals.

Those two, Ovechkin and Green, combine as a fearsome tandem on the Capitals’ top-ranked power play, which entered the postseason with a staggering 26.8 percent success rate.

“They’re good players. You have to give 'em credit,” coach John Tortorella said. “I thought we did a lot of good things killing penalties, but things like that are going to happen when good players are on the ice and you’re down a man so many times. You can’t do that. We will not win games if we are there.”

The Rangers’ penalty-killing unit was aggressive in stifling the Caps on their first three man-up efforts, but New York was playing with fire as it went down a man at 6:26 of the second.

“You can’t just continue to let them get momentum,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “The first couple ones, we were able to be effective, but you give them the fourth and fifth one and they get comfortable out there and make adjustments. It’s going to be tough to stop them that many times.”

So, you can guarantee that will be a point of emphasis moving forward as the Rangers look to avoid a 2-0 hole before the series shifts back to New York.

In fact, it was a point of emphasis heading into the series.

“We’ve been talking about it,” alternate captain Brad Richards said. “Starting too many men, that’s just [being] amped up, and I know [Asham] is just being physical [on the fourth penalty]. Can you tell him not to hit that guy? I don’t think it’s that’s bad of a play. There’s two [penalties]. Some of them are penalties, some of them aren’t and that’s just the way hockey goes, but we’re definitely gonna focus on it. Sometimes, things just happen.”

Regardless, Thursday’s game reinforced that special teams will be a critical factor in the series. The Capitals converted on the power play, but the Rangers failed to cash in on 56 seconds of 5-on-3 time in the second, only to surrender two quick goals shortly afterward.

Nash said those swings “definitely proved” the importance of special-teams play in the matchup between the two teams.

“We gotta be better,” said Nash, who was held off the score sheet despite attempting 16 shots. “We gotta get more shots and, once we do get the opportunities on the power play, we’ve got to make sure we bear down and beat their goaltender.”

At a glance: After four days off to rest and prepare, the No. 6-seed Rangers and No. 3-seed Capitals finally square off in Washington, D.C., for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals Thursday night at Verizon Center. With plenty of time to stew over last spring’s postseason exit -- the Rangers bounced the Capitals in the semifinals -- Washington seeks revenge. The two clubs meet in the playoffs for the third consecutive year with plenty of storylines and intrigue to consider.

Great No. 8: After a slow start to the season, in part because of his transition to right wing, Alex Ovechkin finished the season at a startling pace as he led the Caps to yet another Southeast Division title. With a sensational six weeks, beginning in mid-March, Ovechkin was lights-out for the Capitals. Earning his third Rocket Richard trophy, Ovechkin finished the season with 32 goals and 56 points, including a stunning 14 goals and 22 points in 13 games during the month of April. Who is going to contain him? The top pair of Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh seems the obvious choice, though coach John Tortorella hinted that he may split the two defensemen to achieve more balance on the back end.

Battle in nets: One of the key X-factors will be the play of Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Though the Caps appear to be the team peaking at the right time with eight wins in their last 10 games, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner is fully capable of stealing a game and changing the complexion of the series. Lundqvist enters the playoffs with a 24-16-3 record, .926 save percentage and 2.05 goals against average. He also recorded a shutout in Saturday’s 4-0 win against the Devils, his 14th consecutive start. Braden Holtby is the young up-and-comer, but he’s got two rounds of playoff experience under his belt now after last season. The 23-year-old is coming off a fine regular season of his own, including wins in nine of his last 10 starts.

Special teams: Rangers winger Rick Nash was asked the key to the series on Wednesday. His answer? Special teams. Here’s why: The Caps enter the post-season with the best power-play in the league, ranking first overall with a whopping 44 man-up goals and a dazzling 26.8% success rate. By contrast, the Rangers rank 23rd in the league at 15.7% and were blanked on all six power-play opportunities in their season finale against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Whether they can break through against the Caps will be a big question mark; the Caps’ penalty kill is one of the league’s worst; Washington ranks 27th with only a 77.9% kill rate.

Ward returns: Sidelined for the past nine games since suffering a knee injury earlier this month, Washington’s Joel Ward returns for the Capitals Thursday night. The 32-year-old forward, who has 10 goals and 22 points in 32 career playoff games, adds another scoring threat to Washington’s high-octane offense. Ward scored the series-clinching game-winner in overtime of Game 7 to knock off the Boston Bruins in Round 1 last April.

Staal unlikely: Though he has been practicing with the team for weeks, Marc Staal said he is “probably” not going to play in Game 1. The 26-year-old defenseman has not played since being struck in the right eye with a puck March 5, but appears to be inching toward a return. Though he is not expected to be in the lineup Thursday, it is possible that Staal will be available later in the series.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Since being acquired by the Rangers in a blockbuster trade with Columbus last summer, Rick Nash has performed as advertised.

A dynamic forward who possesses that rare combination of size, speed and skill. One who can change the nature of a team’s lineup or change the complexion of an entire game. A player who creates a nightmare matchup for an opposing team.

But even though Nash has an impressive list of individual accomplishments -- an Olympic gold medal, numerous All-Star nods and an incredible run of nine straight 20-goal seasons -- Nash is missing one critical element that could define his legacy as a top player in the league: playoff success.

The former first overall pick in 2002, who spent the previous nine seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, has made only one appearance in the playoffs. He has yet to win a single game.

His only taste of postseason action to date? A first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009, in which his Blue Jackets were swept and easily dispatched.

With four years since his last chance at making a postseason impact, consider Nash ready to rise to the challenge.

"We’ll find out," Nash said of embracing the pressure of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. "It’s something all the great athletes have done. It’s time to step up now."

His postseason experience has been so limited that it took Nash a long time to answer when asked what he could draw from that disappointing initiation in 2009.

"Um, I don’t know," Nash said before a long pause. "It wasn’t the way we wanted it to go. It was a quick series, but getting a little taste of the energy, the excitement and what to expect, it’s nice to have that stuff under my belt."

Nash isn’t a stranger to the big stage, though. A member of the gold-medal-winning Canadian team in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Nash has donned the Maple Leaf on his sweater enough in international competition to understand the type of pressure that comes with it.

"Any time you suit up for Hockey Canada, it’s on a huge stage, which is the same kind of feeling here," he said. "There’s a lot of pressure here to win; it’s a good feeling. It’s fun. This is when hockey counts, and it’s the same thing as when you play at the Olympics and stuff like that."

If Nash’s transition from a small-market locale like Columbus to the bright lights of Broadway is any indication, he is well-equipped to handle the scrutiny that comes with his star billing.

The 28-year-old led the team with 21 goals and finished second in scoring with 42 points in his debut season for the Rangers, and coach John Tortorella has never wasted an opportunity to extol his talents.

"He’s a game-breaker," Tortorella said. "It’s not just one particular thing. The way he handles himself in the room, handles himself off the ice, all the situations he’s been put in and has succeeded in. It’s a deal you do 10 times over, because you just don’t get that type of player that often."

Derek Dorsett, acquired in another Rangers trade with the Blue Jackets at the deadline this April, has played with Nash since 2008. Given what he’s seen him do on a nightly basis, Dorsett is confident he’ll be an important contributor come playoff time.

"Any time you play with a player like that, you sit back and kind of just watch and try to just learn," said Dorsett, who’s recovering from a fractured collarbone. "He’s a humble guy, [he] just goes about his business, but [after] playing with him for four or five years, it’s [still] amazing how big he is, how well he can move off the walls and how quick and explosive and powerful he can be."

Nash seems to grasp that this is an important series, not just for the team but himself as a player.

Nervous?

Not quite.

"Excitement’s a better word for it," he said. "Just looking forward to getting started and being a part of this."

What it means: The Rangers avoided a matchup against the dominant Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-0 win against the Devils in the regular-season finale at Madison Square Garden Saturday. Held off the scoresheet in three games heading into's Saturday's matinee, Rick Nash tallied twice for the Rangers, who closed out the season with 56 points. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 20 saves in his 14th consecutive start to record his second shutout of the season. Now, the Rangers will face the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Another chance: Dragged down on a breakaway that went un-penalized earlier in the period, Nash went on to notch his 20th goal of the season anyway, beating Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg for a 3-0 Rangers lead in the second. Extending his point streak to six games, alternate captain Brad Richards made a seamless feed to Nash at the left circle with 2:37 remaining in the middle frame. That line connected again in the third period for Nash's second goal of the day -- and 21st of the season -- after Mats Zucccarello found Nash for a 4-goal Rangers lead, with Richards picking up a secondary assist. Richards has registered five goals and 11 points over the last six games.

Top line: The Rangers’ top line of Carl Hagelin, Dererk Stepan and Ryan Callahan led the way for the Blueshirts in the first, securing a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission. Callahan fed Stepan from behind the net for a 1-0 Rangers lead 2:37 into play. Stephan returned the favor later in the period, intercepting a pass at the red line and dishing off to Callahan who beat Hedberg five-hole for a shorthanded goal with less than a minute to play.

No Clowe: The Rangers were without Ryane Clowe, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Thursday’s playoff-clinching win over Carolina. Kris Newbury was recalled from the minors to replace Clowe in the lineup. Meanwhile, gritty forward Arron Asham returned to the lineup after missing Thursday’s game to be with his wife, who gave birth that night.

Brodeur on bench: With the Devils already eliminated from playoff contention (the Rangers officially ousted them last week), goaltender Martin Brodeur sat out the season’s finale. That didn’t stop Rangers fans from taunting him while on the bench, however. The crowd at MSG chanted “We want Marty!” throughout the game and jeered the future Hall of Famer even when it was Hedberg who surrendered a goal.

Up Next: Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals; against the Washington Capitals.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Ranger coach John Tortorella dismissed questions about the Islanders on Friday, but the Isles had no problem talking about their opponents or the upcoming clash against their division rivals.

And they’re not downplaying the importance of the marquee match-up -- one with New York bragging rights and, more importantly, playoff implications on the line.

“It’s always pretty crazy but we’re neck-and-neck in the standings and it’s been that way for a while now,” 22-year-old defenseman Travis Hamonic said. “At this point in the year, in my mind, there’s no bigger game.”

Two points ahead of the Rangers in seventh place in the East, the Islanders have the chance to pull four points ahead. A regulation loss, however, allows the Rangers to leapfrog them in the standings with a game in hand.

Regardless, the rivalry has intensified with both teams playing well.

“For sure,” said Kyle Okposo. “It makes both sides of fans more into the game. Everybody is going to be watching the New York area, so it will be good.”

Okposo and linemates Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen have been setting the tone of late, as the Islanders have grabbed eight wins in the last 10 games. Bailey has seven points in the last six games; Nielsen has six during that span.

Coach Jack Capuano has employed the line against other team’s top units and will likely do the same Saturday against Rangers’ star winger Rick Nash.

Hamonic and defensive partner Andrew MacDonald will match up against that top line on defense.

Nash has five goals and 11 points in 12 career games against the Islanders.

“He’s so big. You see a lot of him and he maybe cuts down the far wing, drops the shoulder and cuts to the net maybe better than anyone else in the league,” Hamonic said. “He’s so good at puck protection. His stick is so long, too. You really have to try to play off his hips a little bit."

“You have to be aware, aware of his speed,” he continued. “You gotta know who you’re out against.”

The Rangers will have their hands full on defense as well, with both a productive second line and the Islanders’ top line, centered by star forward John Tavares.

Tavares is pacing the team with 24 goals and 42 points this season.

Tavares is looking forward to an Islanders-Rangers game that has a different feel than previous ones.

“I think there will be a lot of passion, a lot of intensity,” he said. “For me, I don’t see anything better than this in the league. It’s going to be a lot of fun and fans are a part of that as well.”

PHILADELPHIA -– So many times this season the New York Rangers’ roster, chock full of talent, has failed to live up to expectations.

But not Tuesday night, when the Blueshirts’ best played like it and beat up the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 to secure a crucial two points amidst a critical three-game road trip.

Rangers coach John Tortorella has repeatedly stressed the need for his top players to contribute, and they answered with a well-rounded effort that matched the team’s season high in terms of production.

Derek Stepan was outstanding to lead the way, finishing with a career-high four points (one goal, three assists) while centering a reconfigured and explosive first line with speedy winger Carl Hagelin to his left and star forward Rick Nash flanking him to the right.

“My job’s pretty easy with those two guys,” Stepan said. “So, I’m going to stick with that.”

Nash tallied twice and added an assist in a three-point effort, making it a sure bet the trio will be one that Rangers fans see with more consistency in the future.

“I think Carl’s speed alone really backs their [defense] off and it gives time for a guy like Rick Nash to get a little space,” Stepan said. “And when he gets space, he’s a special player."

Even Tortorella, who juggles lines as frequently as any coach in the league, will be reluctant to break up the line after seeing what it accomplished Tuesday.

“It’s been an effective line,” said Tortorella, who earned his 400th career win Tuesday. “I consider that our top line. They’ve probably been our most consistent players this year so we put them together.”

Tortorella used rookie forward J.T. Miller to center a second line between Marian Gaborik and captain Ryan Callahan and dropped struggling center Brad Richards to the third line with Chris Kreider and Brian Boyle.

The demotion hardly seemed like one for Richards, who scored his first goal since March 10 with a high slap shot in the second period. With that power-play marker (the 250th goal of his career) and an assist on Kreider’s game-sealing goal in the third, Richards registered his third multipoint game of the season.

“I think it was just good for the team that we scored five goals as a group,” Richards said. “You get five as a team and everybody feels a little looser and, next practice, you’ll notice a difference right away.”

All those moves seemed to pay off as the Rangers sustained a scoring attack even when the Flyers rallied in the third period.

After Wayne Simmonds, who returned to the game after being hit in the face with a puck, got the Flyers on the board in the second, Philly cut the lead to 3-2 with Claude Giroux’s slap shot that clipped Jakub Voracek in the face and squirted through Henrik Lundqvist at 6:28 in the third.

Nash then snuffed out Philadelphia’s surge with a wraparound goal that put the Rangers up 4-2 shortly after the Flyers pulled within a score.

“That fourth goal was a relief,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who finished with 32 saves. “It kind of killed their momentum.”

Tortorella even switched up the defensive pairings, promoting Michael Del Zotto to play with defenseman Dan Girardi. Del Zotto finished with two assists while logging 26 minutes, 59 seconds of ice time on the team’s top pair.

“This is a huge part of his process. Can he sustain it?” Tortorella said. “Sometimes when he plays really well he forgets a little bit and he just loses himself, but I really think he’s shown a maturity as far as preparing and this is a building he’s had struggles in before. I thought he played very well tonight.”

It won’t be just Del Zotto trying to sustain his play, but the Rangers’ team as a whole.

In eighth place with 35 points, the Rangers now travel to Ottawa where they face the fifth-place Senators on Thursday before concluding their road trip with Saturday’s match against the fourth-place Canadiens in Montreal.

PHILADELPHIA -– At a glance: A tremendous four-point game from Derek Stepan and three-point night from Rick Nash fueled the Rangers to a 5-2 win over the struggling Flyers in Philadelphia on Tuesday, giving them a much-needed jump start to a crucial three-game road trip. Winless in their previous two games, the goal-starved Rangers tallied five goals in a well-rounded effort; New York now has 35 points.

Stepan up: Stepan set a career high with his four-point effort in a terrific game by the 22-year-old pivot. After setting up the first two Rangers goals, Stepan notched one of his own, backhanding a rebound past a sprawling Ilya Bryzgalov. He added another helper on Nash's second goal of the night in the third period.

Third-period rally: Sparked by a power-play goal late in the second, the Flyers cut the Rangers' lead to 3-2 on a shot that stung Jakub Voracek and seemed to surprise Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist midway through the third. Claude Giroux unleashed a slap shot that clipped Voracek in the face before squirting past Lundqvist. Nash snuffed out the comeback attempt, however, with a wraparound shot for his second goal of the night.

Breaking Brad: Scoring for the first time since March 10, slumping center Brad Richards netted a power-play goal with a high slap shot that extended the Rangers' lead to 2-0 in the second period. Picking up an assist on Chris Kreider's third-period goal, Richards registered his third multipoint game of the season and first since Jan. 26, after being relegated to the third line on Tuesday night.

Shake-up: The Rangers debuted some new lines in pregame warm-ups and stuck with them when the puck dropped. Coach John Tortorella united Stepan with Nash and speedy winger Carl Hagelin; rookie J.T. Miller centered the team’s second line with Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan; and Richards was dropped to the third line with Kreider and Brian Boyle. Tortorella also played with defensive pairings, using Michael Del Zotto with Dan Girardi.

First strike: The Rangers opened scoring for only the second time in the past seven games when Nash ripped a shot top-shelf from the slot to give the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead with 5:06 to play in the first. Some nice puck movement set up the play; both Stepan and Girardi earned assists on the play.

Back in action: Struck in the face with a puck earlier in the second frame, Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds returned to the game to whittle the Rangers' lead to 3-1 on a power-play goal with 2:07 left in the period. The Flyers entered Tuesday’s game with a power play that ranked seventh in the league (22.4 percent).

Up next: Rangers at Senators, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

At a glance: The Rangers look to get back on track after one of their most demoralizing defeats of the season -- a 3-1 loss to the last-place Florida Panthers on Thursday -- but they’ll host a Washington Capitals team in the midst of an encouraging run. Though they have toiled at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings because of their slow start to the season, the Caps beat up on the Winnipeg Jets in back-to-back games heading into this weekend.

Sluggish starts: Speaking of slow starts, look for the Rangers to come out of the gates buzzing, as their first period will likely be a point of emphasis. The Rangers were too passive against the Panthers and have too often let their opponents dictate play in the opening frame.

Offensive outburst: In their last two wins, the Capitals outscored the Southeast-leading Jets by a whopping margin of 10-1 to pull within five points of the division lead and three points of the eighth (and last playoff) spot in the Eastern Conference. After struggling through stretches this season, Alex Ovechkin is back producing at a nice clip; the dynamic winger has seven points (five goals, two assists) over the past four games and a power-play goal in the last three.

Close call: The Rangers must be feeling a sense of relief to have star forward Rick Nash in the lineup for Sunday’s match. Nash escaped supplementary discipline for a questionable hit on Florida’s Tomas Kopecky Thursday night. So many people thought the hit, which wasn't penalized, deserved a suspension that the NHL’s Department of Player Safety felt compelled to release a video explaining why the play did NOT pass the threshold for a fine or ban. That’s good news for the Rangers, who went 0-3-1 when Nash was sidelined last month with injury.

Back in action: It’s not surprising that the Capitals’ recent surge has coincided with the return of two of their top players. Veteran center Brooks Laich made his season debut last week after missing the first half of the season with a groin injury. Defenseman Mike Green returned for the Caps on Thursday after missing almost a month, also with a groin injury.


Miller out: It appears rookie forward J.T. Miller will sit out Sunday’s game with a left wrist injury, sustained in Thursday’s loss to the Panthers. Miller left the game briefly but returned; he is considered day-to-day. The Rangers recalled Kris Newbury from the AHL’s Connecticut Whale.

Rangers forward Rick Nash isn't known as a dirty player. Nor was he penalized for his hit that clobbered Florida's Tomas Kopecky in the third period of Thursday night's 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.

But Nash may be receiving a phone call from league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan, regardless.

The star winger crushed Kopecky in the slot with a hit that featured two elements that may draw the ire of the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

For one, he appeared to leave his feet. And secondly, he hit Kopecky pretty high.

Nash escaped a penalty on the play and Kopecky remained in the game -- in fact, no Panther even seemed that interested in retribution -- to seal a Florida victory with an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining.

But that doesn't mean supplementary discipline is out of the picture.

After a devastating loss to the Panthers, the Rangers may be on the verge of suffering another blow if Nash faces suspension.

NEWARK, N.J. -- After Monday night’s 2-1 shootout win over the Hurricanes, Rangers captain Ryan Callahan stressed the importance of capitalizing, saying the win meant "nothing" if the team couldn’t follow it up with another against New Jersey the next night.

The Rangers did back up the win Tuesday with their second victory in as many nights, topping the Devils 3-2 at the Prudential Center and leapfrogging their division rivals in the standings to nab eighth place.

It was an important back-to-back set for the Rangers, who weathered an abrupt gut check after a three-game losing streak on the road last week and also withstood a resilient Devils squad that twice tied the game in the first period.

"It means a lot," said Callahan. "I think we take the next step and you can put that tough stretch behind us now."

In an offensive outburst that has seemed rare for the recently goal-starved team, the Rangers tallied twice in a span of 5:01 in the first period and snapped a 2-2 draw in the middle frame with Rick Nash’s go-ahead goal. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto was also a catalyst for the Blueshirts, opening scoring with a short-handed goal and setting up Nash’s 10th of the season.

Nash’s deciding goal was a beauty, too, preceded by a terrific sequence of saves from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist made two short-handed stops to blank New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk and Steve Bernier before Del Zotto sprang Nash and linemate Brad Richards on a 2-on-1. Streaking down the right wing, Nash sent a sizzling wrist shot past Devils netminder Johan Hedberg for a 3-2 lead at 7:25.

"He definitely gave us some momentum," Nash said. "We were coming off a penalty kill and I think we caught them in kind of a bad change and Del Zotto made a great play up the ice and sent me and Richards on a 2-on-1. The D-man was sort of cheating the pass, so I thought to shoot."

After a particularly active offensive game one night prior, Del Zotto was rewarded for his efforts Tuesday. The 22-year-old blueliner batted one out of the air for a short-handed goal after Hedberg mishandled the puck along the boards at 11:49 of the first period.

"It’s funny. You get so many glorious chances from the slot and that’s the one that goes in for you, but I’ll take it," Del Zotto said. "I’m just happy to contribute here."

After a pretty wide-open first 40 minutes, the Rangers tightened up in the third to protect the lead, while Lundqvist turned away all seven shots he faced in the final frame to collect wins in back-to-back starts.

"It was a pretty open game," said Lundqvist, who finished with 29 saves. "Lot of chances both ways but I think we did a very good job and, in the end, I thought we played smart."

On the outside looking in at the playoff picture for a brief stretch, the Rangers now control their own destiny to remain in the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.

They have resurrected some offense and with it, some swagger, as they head into their next two games at home -- on Thursday against the beleaguered Panthers and Sunday against the Capitals.

With two straight wins and a couple of upcoming opponents foundering at the bottom of the standings, the Rangers hope to keep rolling.

"We have to keep moving forward and hopefully get some confidence out of this win," Del Zotto said, "and put together a few more."

NEWARK, N.J. -- What it means: The Rangers finally gave goaltender Henrik Lundqvist some offensive support, tallying three goals to top the Devils 3-2 for their second win in as many nights. The Devils were a resilient bunch, erasing leads twice in the first period to tie the game, but they couldn't match Rick Nash's second-period go-ahead goal to force the game into overtime. New Jersey may be in line for a big boost soon, however, as Martin Brodeur readies himself for his first post-injury start. Brodeur backed up Devils netminder Johan Hedberg Tuesday in his first game back since missing 12 with a pinched nerve, but may start against Carolina on Thursday.

Nash attack: Following up a couple of sensational stops on the other end, Rangers winger Rick Nash streaked down the right wing before sizzling a wrist shot past Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg at 7:25 to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the second period. Nash, reunited with top-earning linemates Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik for the second straight game, leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 24 points. He has also recorded a point in 11 of his past 15 games.

Offensive outburst: Scoring as many goals in one period as they did during a three-game losing streak, the Rangers rattled off a pair of goals within a span of 5:11 in the opening frame Monday night. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto capitalized on Hedberg’s puck-handling miscue and batted one in for a short-handed goal to open scoring at 11:49. Carl Hagelin was at the left post to bury a puck bouncing off the boards for a 2-1 lead at 16:50.

All tied up: Twice during the first period, the Devils erased a one-goal deficit to tie the game. Travis Zajac tallied his first goal in 11 games with a power-play goal at 15:15 and Anton Volchenkov knotted the score at 2 with a deflected shot with 2:47 remaining in the period.

Man down: A Rangers fan’s worst nightmare came to fruition -- albeit briefly -- early in the second period when Lundqvist went down in the crease after being clipped in the mask. It actually appeared to be his own teammate, defenseman Dan Girardi, who made the contact, though Zajac was sent to the penalty box for an interference call that left Devils fans furious. Although Lundqvist appeared shaken up initially, he remained in the game with no issue.

Poni out: Alexei Ponikarovsky left the game with an undisclosed injury in the second period and did not return to the game.

Up next: Rangers versus Panthers, Thursday at 7 p.m.

At a glance: Both the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are struggling to resurrect the type of play that pitted the two clubs against each other in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals as the bitter division rivals clash at Newark’s Prudential Center Tuesday night. With only two points separating the teams in the standings, the 8th place Devils look to hold off the 9th place Rangers playing their second game in as many nights.

Brodeur to back up: After missing 12 games with a back injury, Martin Brodeur returns Tuesday to back up Johan Hedberg. Hedberg will make his 13th consecutive start but Brodeur told reporters that he’s 100% ready to play if necessary. The 40-year-old netminder is likely to start Thursday’s game against the Hurricanes in Carolina.

Back on track: The Rangers travel to Newark fresh off a 2-1 shootout win against the Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Both Rick Nash and J.T. Miller scored in the shootout to help the Blueshirts snap a three-game losing streak that had them slipping in the standings.

Sestito recalled: The Devils recalled left wing Tim Sestito from the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League. Sestito, 28, has seven goals and 13 assists in 57 games for Albany this season. The Devils announced that center Andrei Loktionov is out for Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed injury.

Close one: Don’t expect Tuesday’s contest to be a lop-sided affair as 14 of the last 18 meetings between the two clubs have been separated by two goals or less. The Devils won the first of four meetings this season with a 3-1 victory at home on February 5. Devils winger David Clarkson notched a pair of goals in the clubs’ first reunion since the Devils ousted the Rangers in the playoffs last spring.

Top line together: Aiming to spark his goal-starved club, coach John Tortorella reunited Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards and Rick Nash on a line Monday night, although whether he keeps them together Tuesday remains to be seen. While Nash has recorded a point in 10 of his last 14 games, Gaborik has scored only one goal in the last 15, Richards only two in his last 21.

What it means: After a four-game road trip that wrapped up with a demoralizing three-game skid, the Rangers returned home and got back on track with a 2-1 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes Monday at Madison Square Garden. Both Rick Nash and J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers in the shootout, sending the Canes to their third straight loss.

Front-loaded first line: Looking to boost an anemic offense that was outscored 9-2 in the three-game losing streak, coach John Tortorella reunited the Rangers' top three forwards (well, the top three earners at least) for Monday's game. The trio of Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards and Rick Nash has been an ongoing experiment for Tortorella. At times he has used them together to some success; at other times, he splits the three players up to create balance throughout the lineup.

Stepan steps up: With his team trailing 1-0 in the second period, "second line" center Derek Stepan tied the game with his eighth goal of the season. Rangers captain Ryan Callahan was knocked into Canes netminder Dan Ellis, who sprawled face-first in the crease and lost track of the puck, allowing Stepan to bury one from the slot at 11:06.

Captain Cane: Eric Staal opened scoring for the Hurricanes with a shot from the right circle that whizzed past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist with less than 51 seconds remaining in the first period. Staal leads the Hurricanes in scoring with 14 goals and 34 points.

Brotherly love: Canes forward Jordan Staal gave an update on older brother Marc, who remains out indefinitely with an eye injury suffered in a game earlier this month, and said he believes the Rangers defenseman will play again this season. Jordan, who was traded this summer from Pittsburgh to Carolina (where he joins older brother Eric), said Marc is doing well but still needs time to heal. Monday would’ve been the first time all three brothers played in the same game.

See ya: The Rangers were repeatedly tossed from the faceoff circle Monday night, with veteran center Brad Richards getting the boot at least three times, third-year pivot Stepan thrown out on a key defensive zone draw with less than a minute to go in the third, and Jeff Halpern removed twice during overtime.

Up next: Rangers vs. Devils, Tuesday at 7 p.m.