Julie Jacobson / AP

The Rangers follow through with team tradition and acknowledge fans after their 4-2 victory over the Thrashers on Wednesday. New York swept the series to advance to the second round for the first time in a decade.

Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves for the Rangers, who held a 17-6 scoring edge and 143-99 shots advantage in the series. New York will have about a week off before facing either Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay in the next round. The Rangers are the first team to advance.

De Vries gave the Thrashers their second short-lived lead of the series with 7:34 left in the middle period, when he ripped a pass from Pascal Dupuis past Lundqvist during a delayed penalty. Marian Hossa, who scored a career-high 100 points this season, assisted for his only point of the series.

New York tied it 5:52 later on Shanahan’s 56th NHL playoff goal, fifth among active players and his third of the series. It was a shot Hedberg, who was sharp throughout the second period, would want back.

“We were kind of embarrassed (Tuesday),” Hedberg said. “We truly believed we could turn this thing around. The Rangers played tremendously well defensively the whole series. I didn’t know they were capable of doing that.”

Sean Avery made a stellar clear from the Rangers’ zone by wrapping the puck around the boards out to Shanahan, who streaked down the left side. The 38-year-old Shanahan wound up and fired a shot that caught Hedberg under his left elbow and squeezed in with 1:42 remaining in the period.

The Rangers came out fast again but Hedberg provided a steadier presence in goal than Lehtonen’s in Game 3.

Tkachuk finally solved Lundqvist after Ilya Kovalchuk found him with space in the slot. It gave Atlanta its first lead of the series.

Jim Slater went off for interference 1:07 after the goal, and Rozsival cashed in the power play 12 seconds into the advantage with his second of the series. The defenseman took a pass from Martin Straka just inside the right circle and let go a hard shot off the stick of Hossa, who was guarding him, that sailed past Hedberg at 7:57.

That gave the Rangers four power-play goals in seven chances over two games.

Notes: The Thrashers outshot the Rangers 10-8 in the opening 20 minutes, the only time Atlanta had a period advantage in the series. ... Jagr is 16th on the NHL career goal-scoring list with his 69, one more than Gordie Howe.

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