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Rangers Beat Bruins 5-2

NEW YORK -- Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 39 shots as the New York Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins 5-2 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

The Bruins have lost four straight in regulation and five of six overall.

Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello and J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers, who also received an empty-net goal from Rick Nash with 2:53 remaining.

Lee Stempniak and Frank Vatrano scored for the Bruins. Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who played the final two periods in place of Tuukka Rask, stopped 13 of 15 shots.

Miller added an insurance goal at 6:32 of the third period with his 20th of the season, when he finished a pass from Stepan near the crease to make it 4-1.

Vatrano pulled the Bruins back to within two by scoring his seventh with 7:54 remaining, as he whipped a quick shot off a feed from Loui Eriksson that Lundqvist couldn't reach.

The first period featured three goals -- two power-play goals that counted, one that was overturned and another that maybe shouldn't have ever happened.

Zuccarello's 24th put the Rangers ahead 1-0 at 8:37. Defenseman Keith Yandle threaded a pass from the top of the attacking zone to Zuccarello, who roofed a shot from near the left post that bounced off Rask and into the net.

Bruins coach Claude Julien protested the goal, saying the puck bounced off the netting above the glass seconds before the Rangers scored. Replays showed Julien may have had an argument.

The Bruins tied it a few minutes later, when Stempniak swept a loose puck past Lundqvist. The Rangers challenged the goal and won, as replays showed the Bruins entered the zone offside.

Stepan's 17th of the season at 11:39 lacked controversy. Again it was Yandle setting up the goal, as he streaked past defenseman Zdeno Chara and fed Stepan at the top of the crease for a tap-in goal that increased the lead to 2-0.

After allowing two goals on eight shots, Rask was replaced by Gustavsson to start the second period.

Brassard extended the lead to 3-0 with his 26th goal at 14:34 of the second. He took a pass through the neutral zone from defenseman Kevin Klein and launched a slap shot that beat Gustavsson high to the glove side.

Stempniak scored one that counted to make it 3-1 at 9:34. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh turned over the puck in his own end, which led to left winger Brad Marchand feeding Stempniak on the doorstep for his 18th of the season.

NOTES: There was some doubt about the status of G Tuukka Rask, who was battling illness, but his ability to start meant the Bruins returned G Jeremy Smith to the AHL. ... The Bruins scratched RW Brett Connolly, RW Tyler Randell, D Joe Morrow and D Zach Trotman. ... Rangers LW Oscar Lindberg was scratched for a fifth straight game. Both he and RW Kevin Hayes were game-time decisions but Hayes was in the lineup on a line with C Eric Staal and LW Chris Kreider. ... Rangers LW Rick Nash was in the lineup after missing practice Tuesday due to soreness.

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