OTTAWA -- If hockey fans in Ottawa didn’t like Brian Boyle after the Senators’ first two playoff games against the New York Rangers, a downright hate fest for the lanky Rangers’ third liner developed after Monday night’s Game 3.

The Rangers rode the goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist as the Rangers stole a 1-0 win from the Senators at Scotiabank Place. The Senators were on the Rangers’ doorstep throughout the game – they outshot the Rangers 39-23 – but when the dust settled, it was a third period goal by Boyle that stood as the difference.

It's been a while since the New York Rangers have produced a real offensive star forward but this youngster has the goods and he has a knack for playing at his best in big games. He was a first rounder, 19th overall in 2009, and he should live up to the billing and then some. He has been a wiz on the power play and that has New York Rangers fans thinking that when he’s signed maybe he can hit the ground running and possibly be a contributor in this year’s playoff run. There is a danger in that. It’s not the fact that he’s 20 (will be 21 at the end of April), age isn’t the factor here.

Last night the New York Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 to clinch the Eastern Conference. When I turned on the radio today I heard the Philadelphia media talking about the Flyers and what might happen to them in the playoffs. When I turned on WFAN earlier today I heard about the Knicks blowing a big lead. Really? I understand the Knicks may have more fans but the team is barely a playoff contender and the Rangers might get the best record in the sport.

It's been a while since the New York Rangers have produced a real offensive star forward but this youngster has the goods and he has a knack for playing at his best in big games. He was a first rounder, 19th overall in 2009, and he should live up to the billing and then some. He has been a wiz on the power play and that has New York Rangers fans thinking that when he’s signed maybe he can hit the ground running and possibly be a contributor in this year’s playoff run. There is a danger in that. It’s not the fact that he’s 20 (will be 21 at the end of April), age isn’t the factor here.

Entering Sunday, the division hosts the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth seed teams in the Eastern Conference, but in counting actual points earned, the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and New Jersey Devils are the East’s top four teams.

And the king of the division has yet to be decided.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that the New York Rangers were walking away with the Atlantic Division title and the likely top spot in the Eastern Conference for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.