Surging Rangers see off Devils in shootout

By Larry Fine

NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New York Rangers gave themselves breathing space in their bid for an NHL playoff spot with a 2-1 shootout victory over cross-river rivals the New Jersey Devils Wednesday.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist saved from Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta and Zach Parise, while Nigel Dawes sneaked one past Devils netminder Martin Brodeur in the second round of the shootout for New York's winning score.

"It's a very big relief. It's a big two points," Lundqvist told reporters after New York continued their mastery over the Devils this season with their sixth win without a defeat.

New York improved to 39-26-9 to tie for fifth place in the tight Eastern Conference with the Ottawa Senators. The shootout defeat left New Jersey at 42-24-7, but the point gained broke their tie with Montreal atop the conference standings.

The red-hot Rangers, 12-2-3 in their last 17 games, are just four points behind the conference-leading Devils.

Brodeur, starting his 32nd game in a row, carried a 1-0 lead late into the third period but the Rangers' 18th shot on goal got past him, Chris Drury scoring off a sizzling cross-ice pass from Martin Straka with 4:46 left.

"We came one mistake short," Devils head coach Brent Sutter said. "I knew it was going to be a game where neither team was going to get a whole lot -- neither team did."

The Devils seized the lead on the game's first powerplay, courtesy of a high-sticking call against Michal Rozsival, when Dainius Zubrus slapped it past Lundqvist off a pass from behind the net by Michael Rupp 6:05 into the game.