Rangers Rock Devils, 5-2

by: Melinda Quasius | Special to NY Sports Day | Thursday, November 13, 2008



NEWARK, NJ - A rivalry is the state or condition of competition or antagonism. Once again, the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers renewed their rivalry, but with more antagonism than competition.

The Rangers scored four goals in just over eight minutes in the second period en route to a 5-2 victory for the visitors.

New Jersey controlled the tempo of the first period, out shooting the Blueshirts 13-5 in the period.

“That’s the way we wanted to play. We were disciplined in our approach,” said Devils Head Coach Brent Sutter.

The Devils ignited the crowd with the first goal of the game at 7:04 by Travis Zajac. Mike Mottau threw the puck at the net from the blue line, and Zajac crashed the crease and tapped the puck past Henrik Lundqvist. Zach Parise was credited with an assist on the play.

In the midst of the goal celebration, a scrum formed behind Lundqvist.

New Jersey earned a power play out of it when Brandon Dubinsky was called for roughing against Parise. New Jersey was unable to capitalize on the man advantage.

Sutter had challenged his power play to be more effective earlier this week, but his team went 0-4 on special teams for the night, making them 0-9 in the last three games.

With the power play struggling again, the team’s leading goal scorer, Parise, had a perfect opportunity to score at even strength with six minutes left in the first period. He took a breakaway straight at Lundqvist, but rifled the puck over the net.

“We have to bury those chances,” Sutter said.

New Jersey attacked New York throughout the period, and was helped by the Rangers turning over the puck three times in Devils’ territory.

At the end of the first, emotions began to boil over as both teams were assessed roughing penalties for another get-together after the horn. The Rangers Colton Orr was also called for high-sticking, putting New Jersey again on the power play to begin the second session with lackluster results.

With 5:47 gone in the second, momentum shifted as New York was given its first power play opportunity when Mike Rupp was called for hooking. Moments later, with Ryan Callahan at Weekes' doorstep, Bryce Salvador cross checked Callahan to the ice to prevent an easy goal.

The ensuing five-on-three sparked the eight minute scoring flurry by New York.

The Rangers took until two seconds left on the five-on-three for Michal Rozsival to score the Blueshirts’ first goal. Rozsival was assisted by Paul Mara and Nigel Dawes.

Half way through the period, Chris Drury took a pass from Dan Fritsche in the right circle and roofed the puck over Weekes for an even strength goal.

Moments later, Fritsche passed the puck from behind the net to Lauri Korpikoski in between the circles and he lifted the puck past Weekes to put the visitors up 3-1.

Nigel Dawes earned his second assist of the night, and Dan Girardi was also credited with a helper.

Korpikoski’s goal is his second career NHL tally, and first regular season goal.

Frustration mounted for the Devils, resulting in 23 penalty minutes during the second period.

“That’s one of the tough things to manage, our emotions, keep our emotions in check,” said Weekes. “Tonight we were on the other side of that.”

The game slipped out of New Jersey’s grasp when the Rangers were give another five-on-three opportunity with 4:27 left in the second. Jamie Langenbrunner and Patrick Elias in the box, Nikolai Zherdev put a rebound in past Weekes from the left side of the net.

Wade Redden and Dubinsky were credited with the assists.

“The disappointing thing for me is the first period, you go from one extreme to another in the second. We took penalties. We stood around and watched and then you get into penalty trouble, two five-on-three’s. They capitalized on both,” said an exasperated Sutter.

At the end of the second period, Dubinsky and Dainius Zubrus fought in open ice. Both received five minute major fighting penalties, and Zubrus and Colton Orr received 10 minute game misconduct penalties. In addition, Orr was also slapped with a two minute penalty for roughing.

Weekes was replaced by Scott Clemmensen in goal to begin the third period in an effort to shake up the team. Weekes stopped 21 of 25 shots he faced.

The wake up call seemed to get through to the Devils, temporarily.

With Parise screening Lundqvist 4:19 into the third, Anssi Salmela got the puck to Jamie

Langenbrunner in the right circle. Langenbrunner ripped a shot past Lundqvist, his third goal of the season.

New York finished its scoring bonanza at 9:51 in the third. Zherdev picked the puck up at center ice, skated towards the right boards, and pasted a slap shot off of Clemmensen’s glove and into the back of the net. Girardi was credited with his second assist of the night.

In total, the Rangers put 10 more shots on goal than the home team, and both squads combined for 54 penalty minutes.

New York was a very successful two for six on the power play, including two for two with a two man advantage.

Lundqvist saved 30 of 32 shots faced, and Clemmensen was 16 for 17 at the other end.

The Devils have lost three games in a row, keeping them at 16 points. The Rangers added to their Atlantic Division leading point total, now at 26.

New Jersey will try to reverse their fortunes in a home-and-home series this weekend against the Washington Capitals. The Devils visit Alexander Ovechkin Friday night, and return to the Prudential Center for the rematch on Saturday.