European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday april 20 2007 stars and stripes Pace 39 rangers Advance for first time since 1997 the associated press new York the new York rangers finally got a Chance to party like it was 1997 Matt Cullen banged in a shot off the crossbar Early in the third period snapping a tie and helping new York to a 42 Victory Over the Atlanta Thrashers on wednesday night and putting the rangers into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade a year after being swept out of Roundup the first round by new Jersey in their return to the playoffs following a seven season absence the rangers turned the trick on the Thrashers who exited their first series in four games it never Ever entered my mind rangers coach Tom Ren Ney said a sweep never Cullen fired a rolling puck from just inside the Blue line that smacked the Iron and dropped on its Side just Over the goal line at it withstood a lengthy video review and gave the rangers their first series win since ousting new Jersey from the second round in 1997 it was the rangers first sweep since the opening round of the 1994 playoffs the year they last won the Stanley cup Scott Gomez zipped the winning goal past Johan Holmqvist with left in overtime and visiting new Jersey tied the series 22 Sharks 3 predators 2 Milan Michalek scored two goals Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves and Host san Jose took a commanding Lead in the series Rookie Joe Pavels also scored his first playoff goal for the Sharks devils 4 lightning 3 sabres 4 islanders 2 at Uniondale by Chris Drury scored twice and Ryan Miller made 24 saves to push Buffalo to the Brink of the second round Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville also scored for the sabres in position to end the series Fri Day at Home Jason Blake and Mike Sillinger scored for the islanders who thought they tied it with left after a big scramble in front but the apparent goal was waved off and upheld by replay nil scoreboard playoffs if youve got passion for the game then play to win a season pass tothe military Golf course of your Choice Ini Europe enter our tee off with Volvo military sales and stars and stripes Golf contest april 1230 two Lucky winners will each receive a season pass to the Mili tary Golf course of their Choice a value of More than to win find the stars and stripes Ball hidden within the pages of your Hometown newspaper submit your entry by logging onto  and clicking on the tee off contest link one entry per id card stripes military Golf directory 2007 at Mil now even equipped with the Best financing find your Volvo cars military sales agent at  first round Besto seven tuesday april 17 Ottawa 2 Pittsburgh 1 Ottawa leads series 31 by rangers 7 Atlanta 0 Vancouver 2 Dallas 1 Vancouver leads series 31 Minnesota 4 Anaheim 1 Anaheim leads series 31 Calgary 3 Detroit 2 Detroit leads series wednesday april 18 by rangers 4 Atlanta 2 by rangers win series 40 Buffalo 4 by islanders 2 Buffalo leads series 31 new Jersey 4 Tampa Bay 3 of series tied san Jose 3 Nashville 2 san Jose leads series 31 thursday april 19 Pittsburgh at Ottawa Detroit at Calgary Dallas at Vancouver Minnesota at Anaheim Friday april 20 by islanders at Buffalo Tampa Bay at new Jersey san Jose at Nashville saturday april 21 Calgary at Detroit Vancouver at Dallas if necessary Anaheim at Minnesota if necessary wednesday rangers 4 Thrashers 2 Atlanta i i 02 by rangers 1 1 24 first Atlanta Tkachuk i Koyal Chuk by rangers Rosival 2 Straka second Atlanta de Vries 1 Dupuis by rangers Shanah an 3 third period5 by rangers Cullen 1 pock by rangers jagr shots on Goa Atlanta 1010626 by rangers 8111231 Power play 0 of 4 by rangers 1 of 6 goalie Atlanta Hedberg 020 30 shots27 by rangers Lundqvist 400 a18200 t235 Sharks 3 predators 2 Nashville 0 1 12 san Jose 1 2 03 first period1 san Jose Michaie 3 Thornton second san Jose Pavelski i Mclaren Nashville Amott 1 Dumont 4 san Jose Michalek 4 Thornton third period5 Nashville Hartnell 1 leg Wand shots on Goa Nashville 148325 san Jose 581023 Power play 1 of 3 san Jose oof 5 goalie Nashville Vokoun 13 23 shots20 san Jose Nabokov 31 a17496 sabres 4 islanders 2 Buffalo 2114 by islanders 2002 first period1 by islanders Blake 1 Poti 2 Buffalo Vanek 2 Numminen 3 Buffalo Drury 3 Zubrus by islanders Sil linger 1 Kozlov second period5 Buffalo Drury 4 Camp Bell 39 third Buffalo Pominville 1 shots on Goa Buffalo 1115531 by is Landers 127726 Power play 1 of 3 by islanders 1 of 4 goalie Buffalo Miller 31 26 shots24 by islanders Dipietro 12 a16234 devils 4r us Honing 3 new Jersey 210 14 Tampa Bay 120 first period1 new Jersey Gionta 2 Duya Tampa Bay Perrin 1 3 new Jersey Panse 5 Martin second period4 new Jersey Parise 6 Greene 5 Tampa Bay St Louis 3 Kuba 1139 6 Tampa Bay Lecavalier 5 Prospal St new Jersey Gomez shots on Goa new Jersey 10127837 Tampa Bay 61210533 Power play Jersey 1 of 7 Tampa Bay 0 of 3 Jersey Brodeur 22 33 shots30 Tampa Bay 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