Gaborik scores hat trick; Rangers nip Bruins in overtime

If you're going to score a hat trick, it may as well be with some dramatic flair.

Right Winger Marian Gaborik scored on a breakaway goal just 27 seconds into overtime leading his New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the previously unbeaten Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Gaborik's goal was his third of the game and came as he split Bruins defensemen and got a clear shot on goal that was initially blocked by goalie Tuukka Rask, but right back at Gaborik who batted it out of the air and into the net, triggering the customary shower of hats onto the ice.

Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26 shots for the win despite blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2 as Brad Marchand scored a power play goal just into the 2nd period and Milan Lucic tied the game at 2-2 on a rebound of his own shot midway through the period.

The tie was short lived, as Taylor Pyatt scored for the Rangers' 46 seconds later when he put in a rebound of Derek Stepan's drive that bounced off Rask's chest to give New York it's 3-2 lead going into the 3rd period.  The scored stayed there until Nathan Horton tied it at 3-3 with 4:23 left in regulation.

Gaborik nearly had his hat trick in regulation as Rick Nash emerged alone in front of the crease with the puck, but Rask stuffed his attempt, then Gaborik tried to poke in the rebound with less than a minute left in regulation, but was stonewalled by Rask, who had a fabulous game in goal in stopping 29 shots, given that the Bruins team defense came out sluggish to start the game, forcing Rask to make some heart-stopping saves.

But he couldn't stop Gaborik's gamer and Boston lost for the first time on the young season while the Rangers won for the first time, avenging their opening night loss to the Bruins in the process.

The Rangers now make the short trip to Philadelphia to take on the winless Flyers tomorrow night, then return home for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Boston returns home for a date with the New York Islanders on Friday night, then take the weekend off before flying off to meet the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.