Rangers get unfamiliar taste of defeat in New Jersey

2011-12 Game No. 65; Road Game No. 34	Rangers' Record: 42-16-7
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
• Full Highlights | Highlight of the Game		• Lundqvist, Callahan, Boyle Postgame

GAME RECAP Associated Press David Clarkson and Ryan Carter scored 1:54 apart early in the third period, and New Jersey's slumbering offense broke out in a 4-1 victory over the NHL-leading Rangers on Tuesday night. Clarkson tipped Petr Sykora's hard drive past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist at 2:27 to give the Devils their second lead of the game, and Carter pushed New Jersey ahead by two at 4:21. Carter also fought Brandon Dubinsky in the first period, a bout that knocked the Rangers forward out of the game with a hand injury. Ilya Kovalchuk also had a goal, and Patrik Elias made it 4-1 by scoring into an empty net with 1:53 left. Sykora nearly had the winning goal after being honored before the game for playing in his 1,000th NHL contest, but settled for the primary assist. Martin Brodeur made 25 saves. Derek Stepan scored the Rangers' lone goal, and Lundqvist made 25 saves for the Rangers (42-16-7), who have a big lead in the Eastern Conference and had just moved to the top of the NHL standings on Sunday. The Rangers are 2-2-1 against the Devils this season, with one game left in the series. Stepan got the Rangers even at 1-1 early in the second when they controlled play. Already dominating on the shot board, New York managed to get a puck past Brodeur. Right after Lundqvist was bowled over in the crease at the other end, the Rangers got the puck up ice. Carl Hagelin worked the puck free behind the Devils net and sent a pass into the high slot to a wide-open Stepan, who smacked the rolling puck into the top left corner -- just under the crossbar -- to tie it at 6:56. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STATS OF THE GAME Derek Stepan extended his point streak to four games (two goals, three assists over the span), tied for the team-high with four shots on goal and led all team forwards with 21:30 of ice time. He has now tallied 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in the last 16 games, and has registered a goal in each of the last two games. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Hagelin 2. Stepan 3. McDonagh

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THE BIGGER PICTURE Even when you are No. 1 in the NHL, you don't win every game, and this particular loss was one that didn't really get away from the Blueshirts until the final 20 minutes. The Rangers' lead in the East is big enough that they can weather a few nights like this.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Girardi (23:09) Shots -- Stepan, McDonagh (4) Hits -- Three players tied (2) Blocks -- Three players tied (2) Takeaways -- Staal (2) Faceoffs -- Boyle (22)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP AT NEW JERSEY
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Brad Richards	Marian Gaborik
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Carl Hagelin
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Mike Rupp	Brandon Dubinsky	John Scott

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Steve Eminger
Marc Staal	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, McDonagh, Girardi, Anisimov, Stepan, Gaborik.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Carl Hagelin	Artem Anisimov	Ruslan Fedotenko

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Brad Richards
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Ryan Callahan	Artem Anisimov
Ruslan Fedotenko	Derek Stepan

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
McDonagh/Staal	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Stu Bickel