 Despite losing several players to injury in March, the Rangers went 10–2–3 in March to move into playoff position, and on April 5, clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season with a 3–1 win over the Montreal Canadiens.The Rangers finished the season ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division and sixth place in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year.Facing the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the playoffs, the Rangers swept the series thanks to play from all around the ice.