Rangers 2, Devils 1
NEW YORK -- Left winger J.T. Miller scored his 17th goal and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves as the New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
The Rangers have won three straight and are 6-2-0 in their past eight games.
Defenseman Kevin Klein also scored for the Rangers.
Devils goaltender Cory Schneider turned aside 35 of 37 shots.
Center Travis Zajac scored a shorthanded goal late in the third period for the Devils.
The first period was scoreless mostly due to the heroics of Schneider, who stopped all 17 shots he faced. Rangers center Derek Stepan had a chance on a breakaway but his backhand attempt was denied.
Klein's goal 4:47 into the second period gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Right winger Mats Zuccarello started the play by collecting a bouncing puck near the boards and skating to the middle of the offensive zone. He moved the puck to the left wing for Klein, who one-timed a shot past a lunging Schneider for his fourth goal of the season.
Miller's quick wrist shot at 4:37 of the third period gave the Rangers a 2-0 cushion. Center Derick Brassard backed off the defense with his speed before dropping the puck to Miller. With room to step into a shot, Miller beat Schneider between the legs for the crucial insurance goal.
Despite Devils defenseman Andy Greene taking a hooking penalty with 2:40 to play, Zajac scored to cut the lead to 2-1. Left winger Adam Henrique led a 2-on-1 rush that ended with Zajac taking a pass on the right wing and snapping a shot past Lundqvist to spoil the shutout.
The Rangers went 0-for-4 on the power play and have two power-play goals in their past 49 chances.
The Devils were able to pull Schneider for an extra attacker with about 40 seconds remaining. They held the puck in the zone for most of the final minute but could not find the tying goal.
NOTES: Devils LW Michael Cammalleri (wrist) missed his fourth straight game. Coach John Hynes said there is no timetable for his return and he will be reevaluated every three or four days. ... LW Patrik Elias (right knee), D Jon Merrill (right arm) and LW Jiri Tlusty (right wrist) did not play. ... Devils D Damon Severson was a healthy scratch. ... Rangers LW Rick Nash (leg bruise) missed his sixth straight game. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Nash hasn't skated the past three days. ... Rangers D Ryan McDonagh is out indefinitely with a concussion suffered Saturday in Philadelphia.