Devils 4, Rangers 3 (SO)
Ilya Kovalchuk scored the lone goal of the shootout after David Clarkson tied the game with 48 seconds left in regulation to lift the host New Jersey Devils to a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
Kovalchuk was the first skater to shoot and had a huge opening in the five-hole to beat Martin Biron. Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur stopped All-Star MVP Marian Gaborik’s attempt in the third round to preserve the win.
Zach Parise and Kovalchuk also scored in regulation for the Devils, who overcame a pair of third-period deficits to force overtime in snapping a three-game losing streak.
Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and Michael Del Zotto scored for the East-leading Rangers, who had taken six of eight meetings from their neighboring rivals.
After Boyle put the Rangers in front less than three minutes into the third, the Devils capitalized on the power play when Parise found Kovalchuk for his 20th of the campaign to make it 2-2.
The Devils didn’t have time to celebrate as Del Zotto broke the tie 36 seconds later on a wrist shot. Clarkson again tied it when he scored with the extra skater.
The Rangers struck first late in the opening frame on Stralman's tally. Parise evened things at 8:20 of the second on a slap shot for his 16th.