CRUISING INTO 6TH PLACE

Playing one of the most important games of their 2007-08 season, the Rangers skated away with a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night at HSBC Arena, securing their position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with only 19 games remaining in their season. The Blueshirts and Buffalo had both entered Saturday's game in a three-way tie with the Boston Bruins with 68 points in the conference standings, so a win was guaranteed to lift the Rangers over Buffalo in the standings. The Rangers were briefly in sixth place in the East until Boston prevailed in Tampa later on Saturday night. Although the Blueshirts and Bruins both have 70 points, the Rangers now hold seventh, rather than sixth, because the Bruins have played fewer games. The Rangers, who have now collected at least one standings point in six consecutive games, can move past Boston into sole possession of sixth place with another point against Florida on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. The Blueshirts will be facing the Panthers at home for the first time since dominating Florida in their season-opener. In Saturday's back-and-forth tilt played with playoff intensity, Sean Avery notched the game-winner at 14:55 of the third period off a feed from Brendan Shanahan. On his winning goal, Avery drove to the net on the forecheck, forcing Ales Kotalik into a blind clearing attempt that was intercepted by Shanahan, who mishit his shot attempt. Luckily for the Rangers, the puck slipped right to the sitck of Avery, who buried the puck in the back of the net for the win. The Rangers then played picture perfect defense down the stretch in preserving the lead.