The Rangers needed a spark. They got it from Carl Hagelin. The third-year forward recorded his first career hat trick highlighting a crucial 4-2 win over Winnipeg to help snap a two-game losing streak.

”It feels good, I’ve never had one before, not even in college,” said Hagelin, who raised his goal total to a career best 16 including the game-winner coming with five seconds left in the second period. With the game tied at two, Martin St. Louis raced out of the penalty box and got to a loose puck and centered for a sweet Hagelin backhand finish that beat former number one pick Al Montoya.

Most importantly, the much needed victory put them back in second in the Metro Division with 14 games remaining. Columbus has two games at hand and the Flyers have three. The Caps won to stay in the hunt while the Devils suffered a critical loss which Hasan detailed. Five total points separate second from fifth. It’s a race that can change in an instant. Having lost two straight in disappointing fashion, the Rangers desperately needed this one. Especially with teams having more games left. Their next game is Sunday against one of the league’s best in San Jose.

Hagelin got the scoring started early when following a Brad Richards faceoff win, he deflected a Kevin Klein point shot past Pavelec. But the Jets came right back when Blake Wheeler deposited a rebound past Henrik Lundqvist. Andrew Ladd put them ahead by whipping a wrist shot from the left circle past Lundqvist. A second straight goal less than a minute after had to be a concern. But rookie Chris Kreider responded by beating Ondrej Pavelec from a bad angle for his 17th. Pavelec left the game with an injury and was replaced by Montoya at the start of the second.

With Lundqvist settling down to make 30 saves, he kept the game tied. It turned out to be a memorable night for him matching Mike Richter for first all-time on the Rangers list with 301 career wins.

”It’s a huge honor to be up there with him because he has meant so much to this organization, and it’s kind of surreal to see yourself up there with him,” Lundqvist said. ”I’m just extremely proud.

”It means that I’ve been here awhile and been lucky enough to play with a lot of great players who helped me get here.”

Hagelin’s winner came thanks to great hustle from St. Louis. Following Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Wild, Alain Vigneault discussed how St. Louis has been pressing since last week’s trade. Ironically, Ryan Callahan scored his first as a Bolt helping Tampa Bay win 5-4 over Florida the previous night. St. Louis knows he must be a difference maker. Even though he still hasn’t finished, his determination and hockey sense shined with time winding down in the second. After using his speed to get a loose puck, he took a look and saw Hagelin open. Then whistled behind the net and centered for Hagelin’s second. It was the turning point.

”You can’t come on a road trip and go back empty handed, those are two big points,’ St. Louis emphasized of the team’s recent struggles. ”Being able to come out of the box and get one was I think big (for) the momentum of our team.”

Winnipeg threw the kitchen sink at Lundqvist. But he didn’t budge. Finally, Hagelin completed the hat trick at 8:50 when he took a Brad Richards feed and went five-hole on Montoya.

”They did a good job coming at us hard, very aggressive,” Hagelin said. ”At the same time we played such an aggressive style you might give up some scoring chances that are really grade-A scoring chances.”