NHL: N.Y. Rangers 2, Minnesota 1

NEW YORK, March 24 (UPI) -- Scott Gomez scored the winning goal Tuesday and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 18 shots in the New York Rangers' 2-1 win over Minnesota.

Nikolai Zherdev had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who have won eight of their last 11 games. New York moved into a tie with Pittsburgh for sixth place in the NHL Eastern Conference standings.

Marian Gaborik, the team scoring record holder in his second game back from a hip injury that sidelined him most of the season, scored the lone goal for Minnesota, which has lost six of eight. Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom made 28 saves.

Minnesota, playing without its leading scorer, Mikko Koivu, began the night one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.