Boyle delivers twice, Devils KO Rangers in shootout
NEWARK, N.J. -- Brian Boyle scored the tying goal late in the third period and the game-deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout Thursday night as the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 4-3 in a raucous playoff-like atmosphere at the Prudential Center.
Both goaltenders were outstanding in this one. Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers made a season-high 45 saves, including 22 in the second period. Devils goalie Cory Schneider finished with 25 saves, including game-saving one-on-one stops on New York's Michael Grabner in the final minute of regulation, and Mike Zibanejad and Grabner early in overtime.
New Jersey recorded a season-high 48 shots on goal, while the Rangers surrendered 40 or more shots for the 11th time already this season.
Though the Rangers led 2-1 after the first period, they were fortunate to start the third period in a tie game after the Devils dominated the middle 20 minutes, outshooting the visitors 23-8. However, the Devils scored only one goal due to Lundqvist's brilliant play in net.
John Moore wired his fourth goal over Lundqvist's glove to open the scoring at 7:22 of the first, but the Rangers responded with two goals of their own over the next four minutes.
First, Jimmy Vesey tapped a loose puck past Schneider during a goal-mouth scramble at 9:55. Then Nick Holden buried the rebound of a Chris Kreider shot at 11:50 to make it 2-1 New York.
After being turned aside time and again by Lundqvist in the second period, the Devils finally pulled even at 16:24 when Steven Santini stripped the puck away from Kevin Shattenkirk during a Rangers power play, leading to Blake Coleman's short-handed goal, New Jersey's sixth of the season.
The Devils had an apparent goal by Nico Hischier waved off shortly before Coleman scored. It was negated by Kyle Palmieri's high-sticking penalty. Palmieri was in the penalty box when Coleman tied the game.
The Rangers restored their one-goal advantage just 1:48 into the third period on Kevin Hayes' ninth goal, but the Devils had an answer at 11:54 when Boyle scored on the power play, tying the game 3-3.
NOTES: Devils D John Moore played in his 400th NHL game while RW Brian Gibbons appeared in game No. 100. ... The Devils activated LW Marcus Johansson off injured reserve and he returned to the lineup after a four-game absence due to an ankle injury. ... New Jersey scratched RW Jimmy Hayes, D Ben Lovejoy and D Dalton Prout. ... The Rangers scratched C Boo Nieves and D Steven Kampfer.