New York Rangers Make Two Trades, Defeat Pittsburgh Penguins

It has been a busy 32 hours for the New York Rangers as it has been for every team in the NHL. Unlike other sports, the NHL trade deadline always brings action, deals, and fireworks.

The Fireworks for the Rangers not only included burning up the phone lines and making two trades, but then going out and thrashing the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, 6-1. The win propelled the Rangers from the out of the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's 9th seed to the in the playoffs as the 7th seed. Of course, there are about a dozen games left to make that playoff spot stick.

As for the deals they made, the Rangers picked up gritty winger Ryan Clowe from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for three draft picks. Clowe paid instant dividends with two goals in the win over Pittsburgh, his first two goals on the entire season.

The controversial trade is dealing top goal scorer last year Marion Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for three players and a draft pick. The two players in the lineup scored goals in the thumping of the Pens. Center Derick Brassard scored a power play goal (the Rangers scored three in one game) and dished three assists for a total of four points. Gaborik had 19 points all year. New defenseman John Moore scored the final goal of the game midway through the third period. In total, the three new players in uniform had four goals and four assists. Not a bad Broadway debut indeed.

Not suited up was the final piece of the trade the Rangers made with Columbus. Winger Dereck Dorsett is out with a broken collar bone. His agent Allain Roy confirmed to ESPNewYork.com that Dorsett should be back in time for the playoffs, IF the Rangers make the playoffs. After the win and the production of the new guys that if looks better and better.