New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Nikolai Zherdev got the game-winner in the third period, as the New York Rangers wasted a two-goal lead but recovered to top Boston, 4-3, Madison Square Garden.

Nik Antropov, Scott Gomez and Ryan Callahan also lit the lamp for the Rangers, who have reeled off three consecutive wins.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 36 shots for the victory.

"Let's face it, we are right there in the playoff hunt so we have to play like this every night," said Gomez. It is probably a little more intense behind the bench. If you make a mistake or two, you are not going to play anymore and I think the guys are probably responding to that."

Chuck Kobasew, Michael Ryder and Zdeno Chara tallied for the Bruins, who have lost four of their last five games.

Manny Fernandez looked shaky at times, allowing four goals on 30 shots in defeat.

Facing a two-goal deficit, Boston opened the third period strongly. Chara's point shot in a 4-on-4 situation made it a 3-2 game at 2:12.

Ryder tied it at 3:47 on the tail end of a double minor for high sticking to defenseman Dan Girardi, taking a Marc Savard dish and firing it past Lundqvist from the left circle.

However, the Rangers got a one-goal edge with 6:22 left in the contest. Marc Staal's shot from the left wing went wide, but bounced out to the right wing where Zherdev slipped it home as Fernandez was slow to react.

Sean Avery was whistled for a penalty with 1:22 remaining and the B's had a 6- on-4 advantage with Fernandez pulled, but the Rangers had the better chances to the empty net before locking up the win.

Antropov broke a scoreless tie, notching his first goal as a Ranger from the left circle 3:01 into the second period, then Kobasew knotted the game on a breakaway goal two minutes later.

"It's always important for new guys coming in to feel part of it," said Rangers head coach John Tortorella of Antropov's arrival from Toronto in a Wednesday deal. "They want to join in and I think when their teammates see them chip in, that makes them feel good."

Gomez put New York ahead 2-1 with 7:48 left in the period, sneaking a rising shot inside the right post for a power-play marker. It was 3-1 for the home team at 16:26, when Fernandez misplayed Callahan's chance, accidentally knocking it into the net as he spun around to locate the puck in his equipment.

Game Notes

The Rangers have won two of three against the Bruins this season. The clubs meet one final time, in Boston, on April 4...Boston is in Columbus on Tuesday and the Blueshirts begin a three-game road trip in Carolina on Monday.