SB Nation New York - Rangers 4, Devils 1 - Third Period Outburst Helps Rangers Down Devilshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-12-20T23:47:17-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24133172011-12-20T23:47:17-05:002011-12-20T23:47:17-05:00Rangers 4, Devils 1 - Third Period Outburst Helps Rangers Down Devils
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<p>There aren't too many midseason NHL games that carry a playoff-like atmosphere.</p>
<p>Tonight at the Prudential Center was one of those rare times. The <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a> and <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a> met for the first time this season, a mere three points separating the surging Devils and middling Rangers in the standings.</p>
<p>The Devils hopped out to an early lead, but the Rangers scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 road win tonight. The Rangers snapped the Devils four-game win streak and moved five points ahead of their rivals in the standings.</p>
<p>"It was a pretty intense game," <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/devils_inability_to_get_second_goal_against_lundqvist_proves_costly_in_4-1_loss_to_rangers/">Ilya Kovalchuk told Tom Gulitti of <i>The Bergen Record</i></a>. "We made more mistakes than them and that's why we lost the game. We're going to have to take all the positives and move forward."</p>
<p>New Jersey has lost five of their last seven games against the Rangers, scoring one goal or less in those games.</p>
<p><span>Travis Zajac</span> staked the Devils to a 1-0 lead in the first period. <span>Matt Taormina</span> let a wrist shot go from the top of the right circle that <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span> stopped with his right arm. The puck dropped to his left, where <span>Petr Sykora</span> found it. He missed the opportunity to put home the rebound, but Zajac pushed it past the Rangers goalie for his first goal of the season.</p>
<p>For most of the second period, it looked like that goal would stand. The Rangers missed chances, putting shots off the post three different times. But, with 2:32 remaining in the middle frame, <span>Artem Anisimov</span> would break the shutout streak.</p>
<p><span>Derek Stepan</span> carried the puck into the Devils zone along the right side boards, skating down near the middle of the circle. He threw a backhanded, spin-o-rama pass to the front of the net. Devils defenseman <span>Kurtis Foster</span> got part of his stick on it, and it bounced right to a cutting Anisimov, who put his shot past <span>Martin Brodeur</span> for his seventh goal of the season.</p>
<p><span>Marian Gaborik</span>, playing in his first game of the Hudson River rivalry, broke the tie at 4:45 of the third period. Anisimov sent a backhand shot on net from the bottom of the right circle that snuck between Brodeur's chest protector and arm. Gaborik tapped home the loose puck for his 18th goal of the season.</p>
<p>Brodeur said that the Rangers scored the important goal the Devils needed.</p>
<p>"They got that second goal and that was an important goal in the game," <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/devils_inability_to_get_second_goal_against_lundqvist_proves_costly_in_4-1_loss_to_rangers/">the Devils goalie told Gulitti</a>. "We played really hard in the game. We competed hard, we had a lot of chances. We just couldn't put the puck in net. That's it."</p>
<p>After that, Lundqvist buckled down, turning away the Devils. He stopped 30 shots and lowered his career goals-against average against New Jersey to 1.85.</p>
<p>The Rangers padded the lead, scoring two more in the final period. <span>Carl Hagelin</span> tallied his fourth goal of the season while New York was shorthanded, beating Brodeur on a breakaway. It was the Devils 10th shorthanded goal allowed, the most of any team in the league.</p>
<p>Gaborik scored his second goal of the game at the 19:56 mark, firing the puck into an empty net for his 19th goal of the season.</p>
<p>After the game, the Devils said they needed to capitalize on their early opportunities.</p>
<p>"A lot of us had chances, myself included, and you put that in and it's a different game," <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/devils_inability_to_get_second_goal_against_lundqvist_proves_costly_in_4-1_loss_to_rangers/">David Clarkson told Gulitti</a>. "It's tough, a tough loss for us."</p>
<p>Now the Devils will need to wait until January to even up the series. Brodeur admitted his team dropped a golden opportunity to get the upper hand on their rivals.</p>
<p>"When we play them, especially the first game of the (season_, it's always an opportunity to try to get the upper hand early in the season series against them," <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/devils_inability_to_get_second_goal_against_lundqvist_proves_costly_in_4-1_loss_to_rangers/">Brodeur told Gulitti</a>. "So, definitely we let the first one go. I thought we competed really hard. We just didn't get the goal that we needed early to break the game open." </p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 12.20.2011 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> </span></td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> </span></td>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/12/20/2651166/rangers-4-devils-1-third-period-outburst-helps-rangers-down-devilsAJ Manderichio2011-12-20T16:44:51-05:002011-12-20T16:44:51-05:00Patrik Elias Status: Devils Leading Scorer Out Against Rangers Tonight
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<p>The first Battle of the Hudson during the 2011-2012 season between the New Jersey Devils (18-13-1) and the New York Rangers (18-8-4) is Tuesday night at 7 p.m. (TV: MSG/MSG+) at the Prudential Center.</p>
<p>The Devils will be without their leading scorer, center Patrik Elias. Coach Peter DeBoer ruled out Elias because he has not recovered enough from a recent illness.</p>
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<p>"He's still feeling it. He's home resting and will not play tonight," said DeBoer, who had also been affected by what he called a "24-hour bug." (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devils/elias_out_for_devils_against_rangers_Hl8o1yCqnGCWiX0YGwmcnM?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=">via New York Post</a>)</p>
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<p><span>Travis Zajac</span> will be filling in for Elias, who also leads the team in points with 29, on the Devils' second line with <span>Dainius Zubrus</span> and <span>Petr Sykora</span>.</p>
<p><i>For more Rangers at Devils coverage, stay tuned to <a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/12/20/2649276/new-york-rangers-new-jersey-devils-preview-score-recap-zach-parise-brad-richards">our storystream</a>. For more Rangers coverage, visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">our team page</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Blueshirt Banter</a>. For more Devils coverage, visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">our team page</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/">In Lou We Trust</a>.</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/12/20/2650271/patrik-elias-status-out-against-new-york-rangers-vs-new-jersey-devilsPat Johnston2011-12-20T10:48:16-05:002011-12-20T10:48:16-05:00Rangers At Devils Preview: Rivals Battle For The First Time This Season
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<p>The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are already part of a rivalry that isn't short on emotion, excitement and chippiness. That clash be kicked up a notch Tuesday night at the Prudential Center (7:00 p.m. MSG/MSG+) as the two teams meet for the first time all season -- the longest in history the two teams have waited to play each other. The Blueshirts (18-8-4) have played 30 games, while the Devils (18-13-1) 32.</p>
<p>When these two rivals faceoff, records do not matter. But this matchup features a surging Devils squad that has won four straight and six of their last seven, and a Blueshirts group that has run into some uneven play lately, winning a regulation last-second thriller in Phoenix on Saturday, but with just three wins in their last seven games. Overall, both teams have had very good campaigns up to this point. Maybe this is the game -- with all its in-game hoopla -- New York recaptures its early-season stride which is founded upon sound defensive play generating offense, a relentless forecheck and contributions from all four lines.</p>
<p>The Devils have other plans, however. Over their last four games, New Jersey has scored 18 goals. Captain <span>Zach Parise</span> (27) has eight points. <span>Ilya Kovalchuk</span> (25) has seven. And leading point-scorer Patrik Elias (29) has six. Suffice to say, the Devils' top guns -- and center <span>Travis Zajac</span> is still regaining his form after his Achilles injury -- have been performing just as they have to if New Jersey is going to make noise in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>New Jersey's newfound balance and potent attack figures to really put the pressure on the Rangers' patchwork defensive core. Now that <span>Steve Eminger</span> is sidelined, the Rangers are without three of their top six defensemen. Twenty-five-year-old <span>Stu Bickel</span>, a physical presence, is set to make his NHL debut on the blueline today ... while rookie <span>Tim Erixon</span> could get the nod as well if <span>Jeff Woywitka</span> (gametime decision, ankle) can't go. That doesn't even include <span>Anton Stralman</span>, whose game has noticeably improved, but is playing in just his eighth game with the Blueshirts.</p>
<p>Even during their four-game streak, however, the Devils have not been a model of stingy defense, allowing an average of three goals per game. <span>Martin Brodeur</span> (8-8-0, 3.08 goals-against average, .886 save percentage) has been a bit up and down early this season, but has been better lately, allowing two goals in four of the six games he's started in December. <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span> has been steady between the pipes for New York, with a 12-7-4 record, 2.07 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.</p>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> <br><span>@ <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Tuesday, Dec 20, 2011, 7:00 PM EST</span><br> Prudential Center</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/12/20/2649228/new-york-rangers-vs-new-jersey-devils-preview-game-time-tv-informationJimmy Hascup