Devils knock out Rangers, Lundqvist

By MARK EVERSON

Last Updated: 9:05 AM, March 11, 2010

Posted: 2:10 AM, March 11, 2010

Comments: 48

When the dust finally settles next month, this one could well prove a turning point for both the Devils and Rangers, all the more significant because of each team's struggles. The Devils' first regular season chasing of Henrik Lundqvist looms that large.

It's not supposed to be the Devils who win when goals flock in both ways, but in this goaltending non-duel, New Jersey scored more like old Pitt or Edmonton for a 6-3 victory over a Rangers team that didn't want it quite enough.

It was a night of Devils lead, Rangers answer, until the Blueshirts couldn't manage a fourth response on Martin Brodeur. When New Jersey took its first two-goal lead, Lundqvist took a seat.

"I gave up five goals," said Lundqvist, after his 29th regular season game (17-7-5) against New Jersey. "At that time, you have to expect something is going to happen. We have to try something to try to win the game.

"It was a tough game for me, and for us," Lundqvist said. "There were a couple of sequences when the puck definitely didn't bounce our way. Personally, there were a couple of times I could have played more aggressively."

Brodeur said he took no particular pleasure from seeing his rival yanked.

"That's a fan thing," Brodeur said.

Instead, the Devils relished only their seventh victory in their last 21 (7-13-1), squaring their record since the Olympic break at 2-2. They credited Tuesday's confessional team meeting, with returning the fire to their game.

"We hadn't played with much emotion for a long time, and that's what we're going to need, that intensity that comes with it," Brodeur said. "We weren't matching intensity with anybody. Tonight, we had it."

It wasn't particularly pretty, but the Devils aren't critiquing victories these days, just as the Rangers wouldn't, looking to close ground on a playoff berth in any fashion.

"We played in spurts, like we have most of the year," coach John Tortorella said.

Lundqvist allowed five on 17 shots in 35:19. . . . Pierre-Luc Leblond won a bout with Jody Shelly, who stands 17th among actives with 1,327 penalty minutes. . . . Brodeur made his 10th straight start.

mark.everson@nypost.com

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bk71

03/12/2010 1:33 PM

My current thoughts on Sather are I think he will stay for at least a few more years. My feeling is he currently thinks he is rebuilding this team and that is why he didn’t make any major trades at the deadline. I think he will stay around to see if his ‘new’ plan works so we’ll be stuck with him for at least a few more years and unfortunately it’ll probably bring the same results all his other ‘plans’ have and that is absolutely nothing.
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bk71

03/12/2010 1:15 PM

I’ll never give up being a Ranger fan but it’s hard to support this bunch when they don’t seem to give 100%, all I ask for is a legitimate effort and there’s no consistency with the team right now. I’ll still watch and root for them forever though as I take the lows along with the highs of supporting my team. It makes winning all that more special when you’ve been there through all the low points. I’m not sure if Kovalchuck will stay long term and I don’t see him doing too much overall but I think he will score at least one big goal for you guys in the play-offs to earn his keep. I’m not sure as well if he fits into their system.
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rainbow

03/12/2010 12:57 PM

the line is so thin in those teams from 4th to 10 th....and our record in OT and shootout is awful...we gave up too many goals under pressure of OT and shootout....and i wont comment hank s play in these situations cause i ll get everyone angry again...but we have lost at least 7-8 points in these situations...so we could be in 6 th place...the previous 3-4 years we had a good record in these situations....
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Rangers-Hawks

03/12/2010 10:58 AM

ZP, I'm waiting for Kovie to show some flash. I don't know if it's a matter of still trying to get in a groove with the new team or if it's not being used to NJ's system, but I think he'll be fine. The guy is one of the most prolific scoring threats in the NHL right now so while he was good, he'll certainly get better.
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54fighting

03/12/2010 1:18 AM

I personally can see Slats retiring after next season. Drury, Rozi and Avery's contracts expire in 2011-2012. Don't see the sense for a old GM waiting around to add new tires to a car that will be driven by someone else very soon thereafter, so why wait. Let the new GM get a handle on the team and its character and skill set, let the new GM evaluate the needs of the club before these heavy ladden contracts expire. Give the new GM a time to formulate a strategy in anticipation of close to 15M in free cap space.
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Will We Be Free?

03/11/2010 8:23 PM

Was at The Rock last night. The Rangers looked like they were trying to remember where they left the SPF 50 at the end of last summer. They will need it soon.

Was taken to the game. I'd really feel bad if I had paid.
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ZParise

03/11/2010 5:43 PM

RH
They still have a decent run in the last 10 games, no? I think there is still a chance.

What was your feeling on Kovalchuck? I think he played fine but hes gotta pick it up one more gear.
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Rangers-Hawks

03/11/2010 5:34 PM

ZP, callahan can't do it himself and Gabby is on half a leg. You saw for yourself what this team is. There's no way they're making the playoffs and they don't deserve to