Devils edge Rangers 3-2 in preseason tilt

September 24, 2008   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

For the first time since the Rangers’ five game playoff series victory in April, the Devils and the Rangers did battle once again at the Rock.  Although Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist both started the game in net it obviously didn’t mean the Devils’ 3-2 win should be considered any sort of revenge though there was plenty of intensity for a preseason game (par for the course for these two teams).

For me the biggest example of the rivalry’s intensity came when Aaron Voros and Paul Martin got tangled up in the first period, and first-pairing defenseman Bryce Salvador took a fighting major sticking up for Martin, bludgenoning Voros in their bout.  Though you always like to see that kind of snarl as Doc Emrick would say, having a first-pairing defenseman fight in preseason isn’t in the ideal script.

As far as scoring goes, Thomas Pock and Vladimir Denisov’s back-to-back penalties led to the Devils’ first goal from Jamie Langenbrunner on a five-on-three.  Brian Fahey (not to be confused with immortal ex-Devil Jim Fahey) scored a power play goal later in the period to even the contest.  Zach Parise’s goal with under half a minute remaining in the first period off a rebound from a Salvador shot put the Devils ahead 2-1, where the score would stay throughout the second period.

Midway through the second, both backup goalies made their appearance.  Scott Clemmensen for the Devils and Antoine Lafleur for the Rangers.  Neither gave up a goal until 3:20 was left in the game, when Parise scored his second of the night.  Just over a minute later, Petr Nedved (continuing his improbable comeback) scored for New York, making the score 3-2 where it would stay. 

NJD Forwards: Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner, Pandolfo-Madden-Clarkson, Fedorov-Vrana-Bergfors, Leblond-Pelley-DiSalvatore

NJD Defense: Salvador-Martin, Spiller-Leach, Salmela-Greene

NJD Goalies: Brodeur-Clemmensen

NYR Forwards: Dawes-Drury-Prucha, Voros-Dubinsky-Callahan, Rissmiller-Nedved-Fritsche, Dupont-Moore-Wiese

NYR Defense: Rozsival-Staal, Pock-Fahey, Mara-Denisov

NYR Goalies: Lundqvist-LaFleur