Rangers handle Senators in Game 4, even series

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers' ability to roll four lines is arguably the main reason they qualified for the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's why they shouldn't have been counted out after losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference Second Round to the Ottawa Senators.
Those lines were on full display Thursday, when Oscar Lindberg scored twice in a 4-1, Game 4 win at Madison Square Garden that tied the best-of-7 series 2-2.
"As soon as you have four lines contributing, whether it's forecheck or playing good defensively, it's just getting tough on their [defense]," Lindberg said.

Nick Holden and Chris Kreider scored, and Tanner Glass had two assists for the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves and allowed two goals in the two games here.
[WATCH: All Rangers vs. Senators highlights | RELATED: Complete New York vs. Ottawa series coverage]
Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson did not play the third period because of a lower-body injury. Craig Anderson allowed three goals on 20 shots before being pulled after two periods. Mike Condon made nine saves, and Kyle Turris scored in the third period.
Karlsson has been playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel but has not missed any games this postseason. Game 5 is at Ottawa on Saturday.
"We felt it was better to keep him out after the second period," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "He could have come back, but [we] just wanted to make sure."

Lindberg scored his second goal of the game at 15:54 of the second period with a shot from beyond the left circle to make it 3-0. He has scored his first three NHL playoff goals in the past two games.
"I think our line's been doing a really good job of getting pucks back from [our] forecheck, and we had two good chances today and we were able to bear down," Lindberg said.
Kreider made it 4-0 with a power-play goal at 10:45 of the third period. Kreider, who did not score in the first seven games of this postseason, got his second goal in three games when he put Ryan McDonagh's rebound past Condon.
Turris scored with 6:26 remaining when he beat Lundqvist with a wrist shot from the left circle.
"Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other team," Anderson said. "They came out, they're good players, good team over there, and they stifled us. It's one of those things where you learn from your mistakes, move forward, adjust, and get ready for the next battle."

Goal of the game

Lindberg finished a 2-on-0 with Michael Grabner to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead 2:01 into the second period. Glass blocked Ben Harpur's shot from the point, which sent Grabner and Lindberg the other way. Lindberg one-timed Grabner's feed past Anderson.
"You have to have four lines that can play," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "Definitely tonight, Oscar's line came up big for us, a couple of big plays. If you expect to win, you're going to need contributions from your whole team, and we definitely got that tonight.

Save of the game

Lundqvist kicked away Mark Stone's shot from the slot after a pass from behind the net by Bobby Ryan with 14:17 remaining in the third period.

Highlight of the game

Holden gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 14:04 of the first period. Kevin Hayes skated into the offensive zone and passed to Holden, who skated in and beat Anderson with a forehand.
"Nick made a real good play on our first goal," Vigneault said. "We capitalized on one of our odd-man rushes. We've had a few, but we haven't been able to capitalize."

Unsung performance of the game

Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi blocked seven shots and had two hits in 17:47 of ice time.

They said it

"Obviously as players, you're worried. That's our leader. The concern level is high. But they've got 36 hours to get him ready to go." -- Senators forward Bobby Ryan on defenseman Erik Karlsson
"You look at teams that win the Stanley Cup, they get contributions from all four lines, whether it's offensively, penalty killing, physical play … it's got to be some way that you're going to contribute. It's nice that we've been able to do it on the score sheet lately." -- Rangers forward Tanner Glass

Need to know

The Senators have lost each of the previous 15 playoff series when they lost back-to-back games. Ottawa lost Game 3 4-1. … Since the start of the 2012 playoffs, eight of the 15 playoff series the Rangers have played have been tied 2-2. The Rangers are 5-2 in those series, including this year's first round against the Montreal Canadiens, which New York won in six games. ... Lindberg has played 12 NHL playoff games. He has one multigoal game in 134 regular-season games (Oct. 10, 2015 against the Columbus Blue Jackets). ... The Rangers have scored at least four goals in three consecutive playoff games for the first time since April 16-25, 2008, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

What's next

Game 5 of Eastern Conference Second Round at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports)