John Madden and Martin Brodeur cannot win every game for the New Jersey Devils.  As much as they are counted on for scoring and defense, there are 17 other players on the gameday rosters who have to contribute.

Unfortunately, that was not the case on Saturday night against the New York Rangers, whose goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was at the top of his game against the Devils.  Nine days after shutting the Devs out 2-0, he continued his dominance of the Turnpike Scooters.  In the 2-1 victory this time around, he held the Devils to one goal on 29 shots, including 12 key third period saves.  Brodeur played equally as well, only letting a Scott Gomez first period goal to get by him, in making 26 saves on the night.

Former Devil Scott Gomez scored the game’s first goal and his first against the team that raised him since 1998- 1st round (27th overall) by NJ.  Petr Prucha and Fedor Tyutin were credited with assists on Gomez’s third of the season.  While he is earning the highest paycheck in the league this year ($10 million), he is tied for 109^th in goals scored… with teammate Nigel Dawes, who is earning roughly $500,000 for his contributions.  Hmmm... Let’s not go there with Elias and his $7.5 million contract, or with Gionta and his $4.0 million dunkaroos.

The Rangers led for exactly 33 seconds before Sergei Brylin netted the equalizer from Johnny Oduya and Mike Mottau (his second consecutive game with a point).  Brylin’s second of the year is only costing the Devils $1.5 million for his services, well below the players whom I mentioned earlier.

The Devils and Rangers both fought hard throughout the remainder of regulation and overtime, with both teams having numerous chances to score.  But, Brodeur and Lundqvist continued their dominant MVP performances and refused to let this game end in regulation or overtime.

“Brodeur made 26 saves in regulation, but allowed the lone shootout score as the visiting Devils lost, 2-1, to the New York Rangers on Saturday. He fell to 0-1 this season and 18-10 for his career in shootouts. Brodeur also lost to the Rangers last Thursday, and has fallen to 38-16-2 with 15 ties and 2.05 goals-against average in 71 career starts against them.  Lundqvist, who shut out the Devils last Thursday, is now 7-2-3 with a 1.54 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in 12 career starts versus New Jersey,” according to Yahoo News and Notes.

The Devils led in total shots 29 to 27, were tied in penalty minutes with 13 apiece, only had 5 giveaways to the Rangers 18, but lost the takeaway battle 22-11 and the faceoffs 29-22.

Overtime also favored the Rangers, who battered Brodeur with five shots, while holding the Devils to zero shots on goal.

In the Devils first shootout this season, they were embarrassing to watch, while Petr Prucha embarrassed Brodeur with a wrister past his quick glove.  Zach Parise, John Madden, and Brian Gionta all failed in their attempts at tying the shootout and sending it into sudden death.

Special Teams Note:

Devils 0 for 3

Rangers 0 for 3

The Devils penalty kill finally stopped a team from scoring a PP goal, after 11 consecutive games of allowing at least one and sometimes more.  The only other game this season for the PK to not have allowed a goal was the regular season road opener at Tampa Bay on Oct. 4th, where the Lightning went 0 for 3 on their man advantage, but still held on for a 3-1 victory in the first game of the Brent Sutter era.

The Devils hope to continue that defensive stance, when Pittsburgh comes to town on Monday night.  Dude Joel had the recap of the Devils 5-4 wild victory over the Penguins earlier this season.  Will fans show up, even sell out the Prudential Center to see Sidney Crosby, former Devil Petr Sykora, and the mighty Penguins enter the Rock?  I sure hope that they do and make the place rowdy as ever for Crosby, that “child prodigy”?

The Rangers host the Flyers, who have definitely turned around their season from last year’s 56 points to first place in the division at 8-4.  The Rangers win evened their record at 6-6-1 on the year, tied with Pittsburgh.  The Devils loss dropped them to 5-6-2 on the 2007-2008 campaign, but it was their third consecutive game with at least a point.  Definitely a step in the right direction for a team that was struggling mightily- Until their second home game at the new arena… a place in which they play their next two games, and four out of the next six- all against division rivals… in other words, they have the home advantage, but the games will be challenging from the opening faceoff.

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