Devils at Rangers
THE STORY: The New York Rangers have taken a break from dominating
the competition of late, stumbling to a 2-2-1 record in the last five
games. Even the two victories in that span required that the Rangers go
past the regular 60 minutes. As it proved again Saturday, New York is at
its best with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. The Rangers have dropped three
of backup Martin Biron’s last four starts. The New Jersey Devils are one
of only two teams to have beaten Lundqvist this month, though they
enter Monday’s meeting in New York having dropped two straight.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2
ABOUT THE DEVILS (35-22-4): Martin Brodeur allowed four goals on 16
shots in a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. New Jersey
sits fourth in the Atlantic Division, but is only three points behind
second-place Pittsburgh. The Devils, who missed the playoffs last
season, have their sights set on home-ice advantage. New Jersey has
taken two of the first three meetings with rival New York, winning a 4-3
shootout on Jan. 31 and posting a 1-0 victory at Madison Square Garden
on Feb. 7 as Brodeur out-dueled Lundqvist.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (39-15-6):
New York sits comfortably in first place in the East, seven points
ahead of Boston and Pittsburgh. The Rangers have not lost three games in
a row since the opening three of the season and avoided a third
consecutive setback Saturday, when captain Ryan Callahan scored his
100th career goal in overtime against Buffalo. New York twice battled
back to tie that contest. Lundqvist leads the NHL with a .940 save
percentage but the Rangers are trying to give him as much rest as
possible in advance of the playoffs. He has started 45 games, 11 behind
NHL leader Pekka Rinne of Nashville.
OVERTIME:
1. Lundqvist is 23-10-5 with a .937 saves percentage in 38 career games against New Jersey.
2. Devils defenseman Adam Larsson (back) returned to the lineup Sunday after missing 10 games and played 21 shifts.
3. Four of the last six games in the series have been decided by one goal.