NEW YORK -- The Thrashers are not playoff bound, but they will have a say in which teams will be.
The Thrashers have been relegated to the role of spoiler in back-to-back games against the Rangers and Hurricanes, two of the three teams battling for the final two spots in the Eastern Conference.
They hurt the Rangers with a 3-0 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers no longer control their own fate after the loss.
Next up are the Hurricanes on Friday at Philips Arena.
Rob Schremp and Andrew Ladd scored goals 15 seconds apart in the second period en route to the victory. The Thrashers have been the team plagued by quick-strike goals this season.
The Thrashers (34-34-12, 80 points) broke a two-game losing streak and won the season series with the Rangers 3-0-1.
Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec ruled the crease, stopping many in-close shots by the Rangers for his 21st win. It was his fourth shutout of the season and sixth of his career.
“We know it’s too late right now, but we still want to win the games,” said Pavelec, who stopped all 29 shots. “It’s the NHL. When you step on the ice you want to play as hard as you can. Two more games, and the season is over.
"It’s disappointing because we know we can beat those guys. They are still battling for a spot, and we are out already.”
Schremp opened the scoring 7:42 into the second, taking a pass from defenseman Andrey Zubarev and wristing a shot past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. It was Schremp’s 13th goal of the season and third since he was acquired by the Thrashers on the waiver wire.
“That wasn’t our main focus,” Schremp said of playing the spoiler. “Our focus was to be ready for their surge, and we were.”
Zubarev, playing in his second NHL game, got his first career point with the assist. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien didn’t get an assist, but he made the goal happen with a terrific play to hold the offensive zone.
“I’m so happy,” Zubarev said. “All my life I just want to be here. I can’t explain how happy I am.”
On the ensuing faceoff, Ladd broke down the center of the ice and slid a shot past Lundqvist. It was Ladd’s team-leading 28th goal of the season.
“I thought tonight was our best game by our defense in a long time,” coach Craig Ramsay said. “They were strong. They were quick, and they moved the puck really well. We did a much better job of owning the center of the ice and driving them to the walls.”
Eric Boulton gave the Thrashers a three-goal cushion with his career-high sixth goal of the season 4:19 into the third period. Boulton got ahead on Johnny Oduya’s rush and tipped the tape-to-tape pass from the defenseman past Lundqvist. It was Boulton’s first goal in 35 games, since Dec. 28 against the Penguins.
“Johnny made an unbelievable saucer pass right on my stick,” Boulton said. “I didn’t have to do too much work there.”
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