Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1

Brad Richards scored two power-play goals, and the playoff-bound New York Rangers improved their chances for home-ice advantage in the first round with a victory over Carolina on Tuesday night.

Richards scored in the first period to tie it and then stretched New York's lead to two goals in the second period with his 20th of the season - the 10th time he has reached the mark in the NHL. Martin St. Louis had his best game with the Rangers with three assists, and Benoit Pouliot and Derek Stepan also scored.

Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves as the Rangers beat the Hurricanes for the 11th time in 12 games.

The Rangers, who clinched a postseason berth Monday when New Jersey lost, is trying to hold off Philadelphia and Columbus for second place in the Metropolitan Division with two games left.

Patrick Dwyer scored for Carolina, and Cam Ward made 32 saves in just his second start in seven games.

Wild 4, Bruins 3

Mikko Koivu scored for Minnesota and Ilya Bryzgalov denied all three Boston shots in the shootout, lifting the Wild to a victory over the Bruins that clinched a wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Koivu, who had two assists, switched to his backhand to flip the puck past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask in the second round.

When Bryzgalov stopped Brad Marchand's try with his pad to end it, he pumped his arms as he skated out of the crease to celebrate with his teammates. The Wild will be the seventh seed and face the division winner with the fewest points.

With Bryzgalov pulled for the extra skater late in regulation, the Wild had the Bruins in brief disarray on the defensive end, and Ryan Suter knocked in the tying goal with 65 seconds remaining.