New York Rangers beat Devils to clinch series

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Rangers scored three first-period goals to defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 and win their Eastern Conference quarter-final series by four games to one on Friday.

"It's the first step to something big," New York's Jaromir Jagr, who had a goal and two assists, told reporters.

"It's important, but I don't play just to make the first round." The Detroit Red Wings beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Johan Franzen's overtime goal to take a 3-2 series lead, while the defending Stanley Cup champions Anaheim Ducks staved off elimination with a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Dallas lead the series 3-2.

In Newark, goals by Michal Rozsival, Scott Gomez and Jagr in the opening period and a second-period score by Chris Drury gave the visiting Rangers a 4-1 lead.

But the Devils scored twice on deflections to pull within 4-3 after two periods.

They could have tied the score in the third on a penalty shot by John Madden with 7:08 to play, but Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist wiped out the chance with a key save.

"It was a close call," Lundqvist, who stopped the shot with his pad, told reporters.

"I try to be ready for anything when it comes to shootouts or a breakaway."

Lundqvist had 23 saves in the game, stopping all 11 shots in the third period. None was bigger than the save on Madden.

"That's what makes him special -- in the key situation to come up big," Jagr said.

"Everybody can play when there's no pressure. That was a pressure moment on him and he did it."

Brandon Dubinsky then wrapped up the win with an empty-netter with just less than a minute to play.

Brian Gionta had given New Jersey a 1-0 lead in the first period before the three Rangers' goals.

Bryce Salvador closed the margin to 4-2 in the second when his shot hit Dubinsky, then the post, and finally Lundqvist in the back before dropping into the net.

Patrik Elias got New Jersey's final goal on a 5-on-3 power play 13:50 into the second period.

"It's certainly disappointing," Devils coach Brent Sutter told reporters after his team's elimination. "I think we got away from our game in the playoffs to a certain degree. We did enough things to beat ourselves."

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury and Martin Petty)