The New York Rangers are headed to the postseason for the 9th time in the last 10 years, and the 5th time in as many years. They are the first team to clinch a spot in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs after Anaheim's win over the Boston Bruins in overtime.

The Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators tonight in Ottawa by a score of 5-1. This win puts the Rangers at 101 points for 2014-15. For the 8th time in franchise history, New York has broken the 100-point mark in a season; this is the second quickest the Rangers have reached 100 in a season. Also, was the first game that Henrik Lundqvist was benched for in quite a long time, signaling his imminent return in possibly next game.

The Rangers got on the board first when Derek Stepan fed the streaking Chris Kreider - who was alone on the left side - and fired a rocket past Senators goalie Andrew Hammond. Only 19 seconds later, Curtis Lazar beat Cam Talbot to knot the game up at one. That would be the only goal the Sens would get all night, as Talbot and the Rangers defense played exceptionally well. 

With 5:20 left in the first period Rick Nash fired a pass to Ottawa native Dan Boyle who sent the puck over Hammond’s glove hand to make it a 2-1 game. The Rangers finished the first period off with another goal from Chris Kreider with a minute left, after a Stepan shot deflected up off Hammond and fell behind him in the crease, where CK tucked it in the gaping net to put the Rangers up 3-1.  

The 2nd period went much like the first with the Rangers controlling the game. Almost two minutes in Kevin Hayes passed an absolutely great pass to Mats Zuccarello who was falling down for the one timer, to put the Rangers up 4-1. With 6:43 left in the second, Tanner Glass was called for hooking on Mika Zibanejad. When leaving the box, Glass got past the linesman and received the pass from Kevin Hayes, and deposited stick-side past Andrew Hammond, drawing laughter and smiles from up and down the Rangers bench, as it is Glass’s first goal all season. Head Coach Alain Vigenault was visibly tickled at the sight, cracking up on the bench himself. 

After the Glass goal, the Senators changed goalies, making it the second time in the last three games for the Rangers where the opposition changed goalies. The first being March 22 when the Rangers chased Fredrik Andersen of the Anaheim Ducks after scoring 3 goals on 7 shots, 10:43 into the game, in an eventual 7-2 thrashing. Andrew Hammond, nicknamed the Hamburgler, was previously 14-0-1 since being called up to the NHL.

Neither the Rangers nor the Senators got on the board in the third period, but the Rangers continued to control the game. All was not rainbows and roses, though, for at 10:11 of the third period, Rangers star defenseman Dan Girardi took a Cody Ceci shot off the arm and went back to the locker room visibly in pain. 

Throughout the entire game, the Rangers were backstopped by Cam Talbot who has elevated them to the top of the NHL, thanks to his stellar play since Henrik Lundqvist went down with an injury on February 2; the Rangers have played exceptionally well since Lundqvist went down, going 18-4-3 over that time. In an additional injury note l, Martin St. Louis skating today for the first time since getting hurt. Kevin Klein is still not allowed to skate, due to his broken arm. 

The Rangers are now 9-2-1 in the month of March, and are looking to continue this outstanding play; the Rangers will take to the ice next on Saturday in Boston, during a possible preview of a first round series against the Bruins.