Chris Kreider had a third-period hat trick to help the New York Rangers erase a two-goal deficit and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 6 on Thursday night to advance to the Eastern Conference final.

From one former New York Rangers to a current one, Jacob Trouba was selected as the winner of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, the league announced Tuesday.

The award winner is selected personally by Messier and presented since 2007 to a player who "exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey."

The New York Rangers have been on a mission since falling to the New Jersey Devils in the opening round of the playoffs last spring. They responded by finishing with the NHL's best regular-season record.

Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and the New York Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 on Monday night to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.

Filip Chytil is back practicing with the New York Rangers and could be an option for the playoffs, sources told ESPN.

The timeline on Chytil's return has not been determined, and the Rangers will take a wait-and-see approach to gauge how the 24-year-old center is feeling. However, Friday marked a big step as Chytil joined the team for practice at its training facility after being medically cleared.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette called two hits by Islanders players "vicious" after an 4-2 loss on Tuesday night.

With 11:09 left in the third period, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad skated into the shoulder of Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech at center ice while both were watching play down in the Rangers' zone.

Zibanejad fell flat to the ice and Rangers training staff tended to him. Zibanejad left for the dressing room and didn't return to the ice for the rest of the period, although he did return to the Rangers' bench near the end of the game, according to Laviolette.

"He came back at the end from that vicious hit. He came back. That vicious shoulder, elbow to the head. Watch it," the coach said.

When asked if he felt it was less an accidental collision with Pelech and more an intentional hit, Laviolette said, "I do."

The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils started Wednesday night's game with a brawl involving all 10 skaters on the ice off the opening faceoff.

The main event was Rangers forward Matt Rempe taking on New Jersey's Kurtis MacDermid, with the two having history from the previous time the Devils visited Madison Square Garden on March 11.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson and New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 31.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led the NHL with 3-5—8 in three games to propel the Oilers (45-23-4, 94 points) to a perfect week and four-point cushion for second place in the Pacific Division. 

Jonathan Quick made 27 saves for his 392nd NHL win, surpassing Ryan Miller for the most ever by a U.S.-born goaltender, and the New York Rangers became the first team to 50 wins this season with an 8-5 victory against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on Saturday.

“You do everything you can to not think about it, but it’s there,” Quick said. “It’s a good feeling to get it over with and get it done and focus on what’s important -- winning the division and winning the conference.”

Adam Fox scored 36 seconds into overtime and the New York Rangers became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5 following a wild third period Tuesday night.

Alexis Lafreniere had two goals and Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves for the Rangers, who lead the league with 100 points after giving coach Peter Laviolette his 800th career win.

New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren will miss "a few weeks" after suffering a leg injury in their 5-2 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday, an NHL source confirmed to ESPN.

Lindgren fell awkwardly near the end boards on a hit from Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau.