Higgins the hero for Rangers as they get the better of the Bruins

A brilliant late goal by Christopher Higgins earns New York Rangers a win over Boston Bruins after they had earlier squandered a two-goal lead.

A brilliant late goal by Christopher Higgins earned New York Rangers a 3-2 win over Boston Bruins on Monday night after they had earlier squandered a two-goal lead. Higgins struck with just 89 seconds left as the Rangers claimed just their second victory in 10 home games. The 26-year-old winger faked to pass the puck across the front of the goal, before delicately squeezing a backhand effort in between Bruins goal Tuukka Rask and the near post.

"We played a strong game," Higgins said. "We just let up a little bit. We let them back into the game. "But we were confident we were going to win, even when they tied it up." The hosts had taken the lead through goals from Ales Kotalik's and Erik Christensen. But the Bruins hit back in the last six minutes through Matt Hunwick and Blake Wheeler. "These are opportunities that we just can't waste," said Wheeler. "We can't wait and say with 20-something games left, 'OK, let's step on the gas now. That will be good enough'. We've got to start now."

It may have been a doubly expensive defeat for Boston after Patrice Bergeron left the ice with a hand injury after being hit by a shot by Dennis Wideman. In the night's other game, the Los Angeles Kings took advantage of a series of turnovers to beat the San Jose Sharks 6-2. The Kings led 6-0 just 13 seconds into the final period, with goals from six different players, as the Sharks lost for the first time in eight games.

The Kings scored three times in the final 4:23 of the first period. Michal Handzus opened the scoring and then Oscar Moller and Anze Kopitar added power-play goals. Los Angeles made it 5-0 with two goals 14 seconds apart late in the second period through Ryan Smyth and Wayne Simmonds before Scott Parse rounded off the rout 13 seconds into the third period. However, the Kings' hopes of a shut-out were dashed by goals from Douglas Murray and Patrick Marleau.

"It was a pretty big game," Kings defenceman drew Doughty said. "We were sitting in the eighth spot [in the Western Conference] and if we lost this game we might have been out of the play-off spot. "But we moved up instead. It was very important. "We were really focused before the game and were determined to get a win." * With agencies