Brodeur, Devils Blank Rangers
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Martin Brodeur stopped 26 shots for his NHL-best eighth shutout of the season and the Devils opened a 10-point lead in the Atlantic Division with a 1–0 win over the Rangers on last night.
Defenseman Brad Lukowich scored in the first period, ending a 20-game goal drought with his second of the season. The surging Devils won for the ninth time in 11 games (9–1–1) and moved 10 points in front of the second-place Rangers.
Brodeur wasn’t tested much in his 88th career shutout, but he came up big when it counted, stopping Martin Straka in front on a backhander with 3:44 to play.
Before that, the Rangers’ best scoring chances came in the opening minutes. Defenseman Marek Malik hit the post while coming in late on a play about five minutes into the game, and Brendan Shanahan was stopped by Brodeur on a breakaway a couple of minutes later.
Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves the Rangers.
