Rangers Score Three Times in 1:30 Span To Beat Devils in Dramatic Comeback
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Jaromir Jagr scored two goals 26 seconds apart and Brendan Shanahan finished off a most improbable third-period rally just over a minute later to lift the Rangers to a 3–2 victory that snapped the Devils’ season-high, fourgame winning streak last night.
A 2–0 Devils lead was erased in a 1:30 span, leaving goalie Martin Brodeur hanging his head and Rangers fans derisively chanting “Mar-ty Mar-ty.”
Henrik Lundqvist withstood the Devils’ late pressure once Brodeur was pulled for an extra skater and finished with 20 saves to give the Rangers their first home victory since defeating the Devils on October 16. They are 5-1-1 in their last seven overall.
Jagr tied it 26 seconds after his first tally with arguably the ugliest of his 598 career goals. Jagr wound up from near the right-wing boards but shanked a shot high into the air. It floated and fluttered toward the goal and eluded a leaping Brodeur, who had both arms in the air.
Rangers forward Jason Ward was stationed at the left post and had his stick ready to tip the shot as it fell past the crossbar. He didn’t make contact, and the puck dropped in.
Shanahan finished the spurt at 3:35 on the Rangers’ fifth shot of the period when he beat diving Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya to Michal Rozsival’s long lead pass and came in alone on Brodeur to score his 14th of the season.
Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Gionta each scored, with assists from defenseman Brian Rafalski, but the Devils went only 1-for-6 on the power play — including three penalties against Jagr. New Jersey had won six of seven.