Lundqvist gets Rangers' shutout record
NEWARK, N.J. -- The way the game was being played through the first period, it was shaping up as a memorable one for a great goalie wearing No. 30.
That is how it ended up as Henrik Lundqvist, wearing No. 30 for the Rangers, had a record-setting night with his 50th career shutout against No. 30 for the Devils, Martin Brodeur, in a 2-0 victory on Saturday at the Prudential Center.
Winger Rick Nash scored from a hard angle in the second period and center Derek Stepan notched an empty-netter with 7.8 seconds remaining as the New York Rangers won their fourth straight road game.
Lundqvist, who earlier in the week became the winningest goalie in Rangers history, broke the club mark for career shutouts, passing Eddie Giacomin, who collected 49 shutouts from 1965 through 1975.
"Just a great feeling," Lundqvist said. "They're a tough team because they don't give up much. Halfway through the game, I had only faced 11 shots, but it felt like a lot more. I think they missed the net a lot."
Lundqvist (28-22-4) made 21 saves in winning his 30th career game against New Jersey, including his eighth shutout. He has five shutouts this season. Brodeur, who owns 686 career wins, including 124 shutouts, finished the game with 26 saves.
With 38.9 seconds left, Lundqvist was on his back, with his head inside the net, after stopping a furious charge by Devils winger Jaromir Jagr and center Travis Zajac.
"I didn't think they'd call the goal, just because you could see it under him and I don't think the ref had any view of the puck," Zajac said.
Lindqvist said, "I knew where it was and they were just hacking and whacking and you never know where it's going to end up, on whose stick. My parents flew in this morning to be here to see me break this shutout record and that means a lot to me. I'm just really happy right now."
The Rangers (39-29-4) won 21 of their last 28 road games. The loss put the Devils (30-28-13) a game closer to missing the playoffs for the second straight year. New Jersey has 73 points with 11 games to play and three teams with at least 77 points above them in the standings.
In the ninth minute of the third period, Jagr's bid to tie the score hit the post from close range.
Nash connected for a 1-0 lead at 10:33 of the second period with a shot that beat a stunned Brodeur inside the far post. Stepan's shot from the right circle was wide of the net and carried to Nash near the boards outside the left circle. Nash fired and scored before Brodeur could pick up the puck.
"I took a quick look and saw the goalie wasn't back on his post yet, so I shot it on net," Nash said. "With (Brodeur), he's a great goaltender, so you have to shoot everything on net."
Stepan and winger Chris Kreider were credited with assists for the Rangers.
The Devils had chances to tie it up. But Lundqvist was sharp in making stops on streaking winger Tuomo Ruutu, a low shot by Jagr and a slap shot by defenseman Bryce Salvador.
The Devils brought more energy to the start of the second period. Despite keeping the puck in the Rangers end in the opening minutes, the Devils could not get off a decent shot.
The Rangers tested Brodeur at 12:27 of the period when left winger Mats Zuccarello sprinted down the right wing and sent a sliding puck toward the near post that Brodeur smothered.
The Devils did not get their first shot on Lundqvist until midway through the first period when Jagr pulled down an airborne puck at the blue line and broke in on net. Jagr tried to slide a shot to the far side, but Lundqvist recovered in time to block it with his leg.
Later, right winger Dainius Zubrus took a wrist shot from between the circles that Lundqvist blocked with his chest.
At the 14-minute mark, defenseman Ryan McDonagh ripped a slap shot from the left point that Brodeur managed to catch with his glove. In the closing minutes of the first period, Brodeur thwarted defenseman Marc Staal's shot for the Rangers. Center Brian Boyle got to the rebound but was denied by Brodeur.
NOTES: LW Rick Nash's goal in the second period was his team-leading 23rd for New York. He is the only active NHL player with a streak of 10 straight 20-goal seasons. ... D John Moore was a scratch for the Rangers with a possible concussion and D Raphael Diaz made his Rangers debut in his place. ... The Rangers also were without RW Derek Dorsett, out with the flu. ... The Devils came in allowing 25.6 shots per game, the fewest in the NHL. ... Devils G Martin Brodeur made his 101st start against the Rangers. He has nine shutouts against the Rangers. ... G Henrik Lundqvist made his 50th career start vs. the Devils. He has eight shutouts vs. New Jersey.
