Devils’ Streak Ends With Overtime Loss To Rangers

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Brendan Shanahan ripped a shot past Martin Brodeur 30 seconds into overtime, breaking a scoreless tie and snapping the Devils’ nine-game winning streak in the Rangers’ 1–0 victory yesterday.

New York crisply moved the puck in the New Jersey zone, and Shanahan teed up a pass from Scott Gomez in the slot and put the Rangers’ 29th shot past Brodeur. It was the only shot in the extra session.

Henrik Lundqvist made 17 saves for his fifth shutout of the season. The Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 4–0 against the Devils this season.

New Jersey hadn’t lost four straight to the Rangers since a six-game skid during New York’s run to the Stanley Cup title in the 1993–94 season. The Devils will have to settle for matching the third-best winning streak in franchise history, falling four short of tying the team mark.

Lundqvist made his biggest save of the first period just after the opening faceoff. Zach Parise let go of a one-timer on New Jersey’s initial rush at 13 seconds. He didn’t face another shot until he forced John Madden to go wide on a breakaway during 4-on-4 play, and denied his backhanded attempt with 7:33 left in the period.

Parise got two more pucks on net in the final minute of the frame, recording three of the Devils’ four shots in the first period. Brodeur was busier and was perfect in the opening 20 minutes of his 12th consecutive start. He was on his side when he blocked a soft shot from Martin Straka off a feed from Jaromir Jagr about 6 minutes in.

Straka looked every bit like a top-notch goalie as he played defense near the blue line during a Devils power play in the second period.

In just his eighth game back from a broken finger that kept him out for a month, Straka showed he can do a lot more than set up Jagr. While in front of former Rangers teammate Karel Rachunek, Straka stopped a hard drive that snapped his stick blade 2:51 into the second period.

Showing no fear, Straka stayed in without a stick and dropped to deny Rachunek again, this time taking a painful shot off the right instep. Still undeterred, Straka again went to the ice to block another slapper by the Devils’ defenseman with his leg. The puck was finally cleared and Straka headed to the bench to recover as the fans roared with appreciation.


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