=== Gonchar set for Boston debut against Leetch-less Rangers ===

Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - The Boston Bruins welcome Sergei Gonchar into the fold tonight when they welcome the New York Rangers, minus Brian Leetch, to the FleetCenter.

The Bruins obtained Gonchar from the Washington Capitals Wednesday in exchange for young defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, and a first and second-round pick in this year's draft. The high-scoring blueliner, who leads NHL defensemen with 49 points, is expected to make his debut with the team tonight.

Boston enters the game with 82 points, which is two behind Ottawa and Toronto for the Northeast Division lead. And the Bruins are only four points behind Tampa Bay and Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference's top spot

The Bruins are coming off Tuesday's 3-2 loss in Toronto, as Mats Sundin's second goal of the game with 6:44 remaining in the third period lifted the Maple Leafs.

Joe Thornton and Martin Lapointe accounted for the Boston scoring, as the Bruins fell to 1-3-2 in their last six overall. Andrew Raycroft turned aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced in the loss.

Boston continued dealing with the Capitals, obtaining center Michael Nylander for a second-round selection in the 2006 Entry Draft. Nylander is also expected to be on the ice for this evening's game.

The B's will host Atlanta on Saturday.

New York, meanwhile, will go on without one of its staples tonight, as Leetch was dealt to Toronto on Wednesday night. The Rangers received two European prospects in the trade, along with a 2004 first-round draft choice and a 2005 second-round selection. The move came on the same day Petr Nedved was shipped to Edmonton, and less than 24 hours after the trading of winger Alex Kovalev to Montreal.

The Rangers are headed to a seventh straight spring out of the playoffs, as they sit 15 points out of the final spot in the East. They have lost their last three contests (0-2-0-1), including a home-and-home sweep at the hands of Atlanta.

On Tuesday, Patrik Stefan registered his first three-point performance of the season with a trio of assists to lead the Thrashers past the Blueshirts, 4-3, at Madison Square Garden.

Mark Messier, Chris Simon and Dan LaCouture lit the lamp at the other end for New York, which has lost five of its last six and 8-of-10 (2-7-0-1).

Mike Dunham allowed two goals on just three shots in nine-plus minutes of action before giving way to Jussi Markkanen, who made 11 saves in relief. Markkanen was also dealt to Edmonton in the Nedved move.

The Rangers will host Washington on Friday.

Boston is 2-1 against New York this season, and has won four of the last seven meetings overall.