NEW YORK, N.Y. - Henrik Lundqvist didnt start this night with a ceremony in his honour, and he didnt finish it with a shutout. However, he and the New York Rangers skated off the ice Wednesday with a key 3-1 victory over the rival Philadelphia Flyers and an important two points in the Metropolitan Division playoff race. Lundqvist stopped 30 shots and came within 1:53 of his second shutout in three games. That was enough to earn his 30th win — a mark he has reached eight times in his nine-season NHL career. "It was huge. I thought we played a really strong game," said Lundqvist, who is in 24th place on the NHL win list with 306. "We just have to keep going, not think too much, just keep on our details." Lundqvist was honoured Monday for recently breaking the Rangers records for career wins and shutouts. The Rangers stretched their season-best winning streak to five games, and now embark on a four-game, Western Conference trip. It is their longest winning run since another five-game spurt from Dec. 30, 2011 to Jan. 10, 2012. The second-place Rangers moved three points ahead of third-place Philadelphia by winning what could be a playoff preview. New York has eight games remaining, and the Flyers have 10 left. "Its going to pay off to not make it too complicated for ourselves or think about the standings," Lundqvist said. Derek Dorsett scored in the first period, defenceman Ryan McDonagh added a goal in the second, and Dominic Moore made it 3-0 in the third against Steve Mason, who made 26 saves. The Flyers Jakub Voracek scored his 21st goal off a faceoff with 1:53 to go to make it 3-1. Voracek scored for the third straight game, but it was too little, too late for Philadelphia. The Flyers, who had a five-game winning streak broken against Los Angeles on Monday, have dropped two in a row for the first time since an 0-3-1 skid from Jan. 20-25. "We didnt play our game. We didnt have energy. It was a weird game," Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. "We have to do a better job of getting ready. We had some big wins over good teams lately. Now we need some rest." McDonagh, who has been on an offensive hot streak recently, did it all in scoring his 14th of the season to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. He stopped a clearing attempt at the centre of the blue line, skated into the right circle, and snapped off a hard, rising wrist shot that nestled into the top right corner of the net. "We were able to catch them throwing pucks, and our D and everybody did a good job keeping pucks alive," McDonagh said. "We really wore them down in the offensive zone." McDonagh, who assisted on the Rangers tying goal late in regulation against Phoenix on Monday and then netted the winner in overtime as part of a career-best, three-point night, has six goals and seven assists in his past 13 games. "For any team to win, you need your top players playing at a high level," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "(Lundqvist) has found his game, and Ryan McDonagh has just been a force out there. Hes got to be getting some consideration for the Norris (Trophy) the way he is playing offensively and defensively." Lundqvist did the rest in a quieter second period when his teammates outshot the Flyers 17-10. He moved well and didnt seem bothered by constant traffic in the crease. His best stop came with 5:23 left when he slid to his right to get his pad on a shot by Adam Hall off a rebound in tight. He then sprawled on his stomach and covered the puck with his glove. In the opening minute of the second, Lundqvist denied Wayne Simmonds on a redirected shot and then pounced on the rebound. Moore gave Lundqvist breathing room when he scored his sixth of the season with 12:21 remaining. "We didnt come out with our best effort," Mason said. "We have to be better in big games like this." Despite being outshot and outchanced by Philadelphia in the first, the Rangers carried a 1-0 lead into the intermission thanks to Dorsetts fourth of the season. Mason tried to swing the puck from behind his net up the left-wing boards, but it was intercepted by Brian Boyle along the wall. Boyle sent the puck in front to Dorsett, who knocked it down, gathered it and sent in a backhander at 8:41. The Flyers picked up the pace and built a 15-6 shots edge in the first and nearly tied it during a late power play. "Philly dominated us as far as shots, and they got some chances on that power play at the end," Vigneault said of the first period, "but that is when your goaltender has to come up big. "When we had some breakdowns, he was the difference." NOTES: With Chris Kreider sidelined by a hand injury, the Rangers called up centre J.T. Miller from Hartford (AHL). Kreider wont accompany New York on its trip that begins Friday at Calgary. ... The Flyers fell to 8-3-1 in March and 12-4-1 since Feb. 1. ... The Rangers have won eight straight over the Flyers at home, dating to March 6, 2011. Dennis Rodman Pistons Jersey . - The Florida Panthers are getting some Army training to finish off their preparations for the season. Grant Hill Jersey .J. - The New York Jets have signed former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Graham Harrell, giving them some added depth at the position. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Stanl...Edition-Jersey/. "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on. Tracy McGrady Jersey . - Zac Leslie scored two goals and assisted on two more, and Justin Nichols made 34 saves as the Guelph Storm blanked the Kitchener Rangers 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday. Jameer Nelson Pistons Jersey . -- Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died.PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen has a broken bone in his ribcage wo days after being hit by a pitch, but the Pittsburgh Pirates centre fielder and last years NL MVP hopes to avoid going on the disabled list. McCutchen left in the eighth inning of Sundays loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Phoenix after feeling pain in his side when he swung at a pitch. He had to be helped down the dugout steps to the clubhouse and also needed help getting dressed after the game. McCutchen said he couldnt be sure that getting hit might have caused the injury but wouldnt rule it out. "I dont know but Ive taken a million swings and have never felt anything in my side until Sunday," McCutchen said. McCutchen was hit in the back by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Randal Delgado on Saturday night. Though Delgado said the pitch got away from him, the Pirates suspected it was payback for Diamondbacks star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt suffering a season-ending broken left hand a night earlier when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh reliever Ernesto Frieri. "Im not going to play today and Im not going to play tomorrow but well see after that," McCutchen said Tuesday.dddddddddddd "Two days ago, I couldnt even bend down to put my shoes on. Now, I can ... get dressed like normal, so Im getting better." While McCutchen was not in the lineup for Tuesday nights game against the Miami Marlins, the Pirates are waiting before making a decision on whether he needs to on the DL. Starling Marte, normally the Pirates left fielder, was activated from the 7-day disabled list and started in centre field. He took the roster spot of third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who was placed on the bereavement list. That left the Pirates a man short. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said the Pirates medical staff is having difficulty putting a timetable on McCutchens return because the injury is a rarity in baseball. "They are trying to get as much information as they can," Hurdle said. "At this point were weighing whether Andrew might be able to come back in less than 15 days against playing a man short. For now, were going to wait and keep him on the active roster." ' ' '