Resurgent Devils squeak past Blueshirts at Newark

2010-11 Game No. 60; Road Game No. 31		Rangers' Record: 31-25-4
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
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GAME RECAP By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com Facing the hottest team in the league, the Rangers played a strong road game Friday night, but one critical mistake was the difference in the contest as the Blueshirts dropped a 1-0 decision to the Devils at the Prudential Center. Johan Hedberg needed to make only 16 saves to earn his second shutout of the season and 16th of his career as the Devils won their sixth straight and improved to a scorching 14-1-2 over their last 17 games. The Rangers, who produced a season-low shot total, had their two-game winning streak snapped. “I’m very disappointed,” said Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who turned in an outstanding 27-save effort. “We came close, but I felt like they were the better team tonight. They’re probably the hottest team in the league right now, but we were right there in the end.” After 28 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Rangers blinked first -- making the game’s initial crucial mistake, and New Jersey’s high-flying Ilya Kovalchuk made them pay by scoring the only goal of the contest at 8:18 of the second period. Rangers’ defenseman Marc Staal tried to keep the puck in at the right point of the Devils’ blueline, but it got caught up in his skate and darted behind him. In a flash, Kovalchuk sped past Staal and took off on a clear breakaway against Lundqvist. Without hesitation Kovalchuk rifled a wicked snap shot past Lundqvist for his 21st goal of the season -- and sixth in the last six games. “(The puck) was coming to my stick and left skate, and I was  ... • READ THE FULL STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME Henrik Lundqvist has started in each of the Rangers' last 29 meetings with the Devils, and has posted a record of 21-9-5 with a 1.85 goals against average, a .937 save percentage and five shutouts in 35 career regular season appearances vs. New Jersey. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. H. Lundqvist 2. Zuccarello 3. McDonagh

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THE BIGGER PICTURE Coming off the win over Los Angeles, the team was a step slower than it had been, but around the league there was good news. Surging Buffalo was shut out at home, and Philadelphia, which visits MSG on Sunday, also lost on the road, albeit to Carolina.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Staal (27:53) Shots -- Avery, Zuccarello (3) Hits -- Girardi (8) Blocks -- Girardi, Gilroy (2) Takeaways -- Callahan (3) Faceoffs -- Anisimov (17)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP AT NEW JERSEY
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Vinny Prospal	Marian Gaborik
Derek Stepan	Artem Anisimov	Ryan Callahan
Sean Avery	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Wojtek Wolski	Erik Christensen	Mats Zuccarello

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh	Michael Sauer
Michael Del Zotto	Matt Gilroy
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Girardi, Avery, Boyle, Prust.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Vinny Prospal	Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky	Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Marc Staal	Wojtek Wolski
Michael Del Zotto	Mats Zuccarello

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Ryan Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Marian Gaborik	Artem Anisimov

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh	Matt Gilroy