Mike Del Zotto celebrates shorthanded goal for Rangers. Copyright Getty Images/Photo by Julio Cortez

Ryan Callahan spoke about the importance of following up yesterday’s win with another one. The Rangers did exactly that against the Hudson rival Devils by holding on for a crucial 3-2 victory in regulation at The Rock.

Their second in a row allowed them to pass the defending Eastern Conference champs in the standings. Technically, each club has 32 points. They’re in a four-way tie with Carolina and Toronto. However, the Canes and Leafs have more regulation and overtime wins (15), which allows them to rank sixth and seventh in the East. The Rangers moved into eighth by virtue of one more ROW (12) and one fewer game played than the Devils. New Jersey has 18 left while the three clubs ahead of them each have 19.

It’s enough to make your head spin. Perhaps that part is best left for our Devil contingent. Any way you slice it, the second meeting between blood rivals was big. The Devils took the previous meeting with Martin Brodeur in net. He was activated for tonight’s game but was the backup behind Johan Hedberg. Facing his Swedish countryman Henrik Lundqvist, Hedberg was solid making 19 saves. However, Lundqvist was busier stopping 29 of 31 shots to help the Blueshirts end a four-game losing streak dating back to last Spring against New Jersey. They needed every single one to sneak out of Newark with two points.

Like last year, there isn’t much separating these two. Nothing was decided after a wild 20 minutes that featured four goals. Unlike recently, the Rangers were the ones who led. They took two one-goal leads in the first period only to see the Devils fight back. Mike Del Zotto had his second straight strong game, scoring a goal and assist. It was his shorthanded goal that gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. The play was made by emerging No.1 pivot Derek Stepan. Stepan forced Hedberg into a turnover. The Moose was looking to catch the Rangers in a change. Instead, Stepan’s hustle led to him sending a pass to a cutting Del Zotto, who batted it out of mid-air for his first goal in 21 games (Jan.29 vs Flyers).

The Devils struck back with a power play goal off the stick of Travis Zajac. With J.T. Miller in the box for hooking, Zajac took advantage of a funny bounce that allowed him to beat Lundqvist from the slot for his fifth. It snapped a 10-game drought. Peter Harrold and Ilya Kovalchuk drew the assists.

Oddly enough, the scoring binge continued. In a 118-second span, three goals were scored. Carl Hagelin steered the Rangers back in front when he scored his first in 10 games. With nowhere to go with the puck, Dan Girardi intentionally passed off the back boards. Knowing the boards are lively at The Rock, it caromed right to Hagelin, who buried his eighth 1:35 later. Callahan got the other assist. But it took the Devils only 23 seconds to erase the deficit. They got it from an unlikely candidate. Anton Volchenkov pumped home his first. The defensive defenseman took a Stephen Gionta feed and fired off a Ranger stick past Lundqvist. His last goal came in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final against Los Angeles on 5/30/11.

Both teams didn’t let up in just as entertaining a second. Only one goal was scored. That was due in large part to splendid netminding from Hedberg and Lundqvist. The Devils and Rangers combined for 21 shots for a second consecutive period. Again, the hosts led 12-9. They couldn’t get one by Lundqvist, who came up with three critical saves on a Devil power play. They were owed one following a dubious call on Zajac for goalie interference. Both radio feeds accurately pointed out he was elbowed by his own defenseman Girardi. Not Zajac, who slammed his stick in frustration. It didn’t matter because our power play sucks.

Eventually, Anton Stralman took one on Gionta to hand the Devils a golden opportunity. They generated quality chances but Lundqvist stood tall keeping it tied. Once it expired, Del Zotto made a great outlet for Nash, who blistered his 10th past Hedberg from the right circle. It was his first in six which gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Hagelin nearly doubled it but was robbed by a sliding Hedberg. Not to be outdone, Lundqvist stopped the Devils in their tracks. He got a piece of a Kovalchuk try keeping it out.

Following a wide open first two periods, the third was more defensive oriented. John Tortorella sent only one attacker in. The dreaded one-four is a formula they used under Tom Renney and continue to employ under a coach whose motto once was Safe Is Death. I’m not a fan of this strategy. But it paid dividends. The Devils outshot us 7-4 but never really gave me a sense they’d tie it. Even with David Clarkson doing his best Greg Louganis to draw one more power play, Lundqvist and his team weren’t going to allow another Devil comeback.

Instead, it was a team effort. There were a couple of close calls. One where Lundqvist lost sight of the puck. Thinking he had it, it was actually on the side of the net with Stepan clearing the puck off a Devil stick. Fortunately because it almost was a penalty. That would’ve meant a five-on-three. Stepan’s been doing everything right. He’s not the only one with Tortorella for a second straight night playing everyone. He again showed confidence in Miller, who saw a big shift late. He nearly scored off a great effort. Del Zotto made the play of the game by denying Patrik Elias on the doorstep. A pass across was ticketed for the franchise Devil. But Del Zotto’s backcheck prevented disaster, allowing Lundqvist to get back in time.

Pete DeBoer pulled Hedberg with 70 seconds left. The Devils got pressure but the Rangers got into the lanes. They broke up plays throughout. In fact, they blocked 15 Devil shots and the hosts sent another 14 wide- frustrating them. It all added up to the biggest win of 2013.

NY Puck 3 Star Selection:

3rd Star-Johan Hedberg, NJD (19 saves-made some gems despite 3 GA)
2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (29 saves incl. 12/12 in 2nd-money performance)
1st Star-Mike Del Zotto, NYR (SHG-3rd, assist, 3 hits, blocked shot, +2 in 20:51)