A dejected Henrik Lundqvist can’t look as the Devils congratulate Michael Ryder on his eighth goal. The Rangers rallied to tie but lost in overtime to their Hudson rival.
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

At the very least, the Rangers found a way to gain a point. It took long enough. Thirty games into a baffling season under first-year coach Alain Vigneault, they lost in overtime to the Devils 4-3 at Madison Square Garden. Devil rookie defenseman Eric Gelinas’ power play goal at 1:15 of OT gave New Jersey its third consecutive win this season in the Battle Of Hudson. His point blast went past an unscreened Henrik Lundqvist with Ryan Callahan in the box for an undisciplined hi-sticking double minor.

It typified what kind of season it’s been for the Blueshirts. Every time they have a chance to get two over .500, they blow it. Against their nemesis, even a two-goal lead wasn’t enough to prevent the inevitable. How come whenever they face Martin Brodeur, Lundqvist turns into a sieve? I don’t want to hear about his head to head regular season record against Brodeur anymore. That’s just more meaningless MSG propaganda about a goalie who just signed a new extension to make saves like the one he didn’t make on Gelinas. If he wants to be considered the best in the world, he can start by outperforming Brodeur. Since the 2012 Eastern Conference Final, it’s the same old script.

”These are fun games to play,” the 41-year old Brodeur emphatically said. ”To come in here, get the puck to the net, score some goals, it feels good.”

Exactly the problem. How many times do you hear victorious opponents gloat after winning at The Garden? It’s almost like that scene from Groundhog Day that Hasan linked up recently. The one where Bill Murray’s Phil character keeps having the same recurring day over and over again. Even when he smashes the alarm clock, “I Got You Babe,” still plays. That’s the Rangers on home ice. Instead of starting a nine-game homestand on the right foot, they were fortunate to get a point against a low scoring opponent with similar issues. How did they get four past Lundqvist on 24 shots?

”It’s a big point,” a philosophical Lundqvist explained. ”We never gave up, so that’s a good sign. We just didn’t get the bounces.”

Is he kidding? It sounds like sour grapes. How about doing your job against a team you used to dominate? Before he was outplayed by Brodeur two postseasons ago, Lundqvist always shut the Devils down. If he had a two-goal lead, the game was over. They weren’t coming back. That’s no longer the case. For whatever reason, he doesn’t get it done. I swear they’d be better off letting Cam Talbot start in next month’s Stadium Series. They play better in front of him. Whether it’s mental like the whole win one lose one shenanigans, I don’t know. Right now, they’re one of the NHL’s biggest disappointments. And this is on a night Chris Kreider bailed them out by scoring with 21.4 seconds left on the power play to force extras.

Buoyed by Kreider’s seventh, the Rangers were looking to ride the momentum. Instead, Callahan caught Andy Greene cutting his lip for a four-minute penalty. Greene is making a strong case to be on the USA Olympic roster. After Ryan McDonagh, he’s been the second best defenseman among the Devils, Islanders and Rangers. Here he bled and it led directly to Gelinas beating Lundqvist 13 seconds into the man-advantage for a big extra point.

”I’m fortunate to be out there in that type of situation, and I gave it a shot,” the improving rookie defenseman said. ”It definitely feels good to be rewarded and to get that winner, but it was a team effort.”

Before they reached that point, the Blueshirts scored the first two on Brodeur. Brad Richards beat him for the only goal in the first. It was his team-leading ninth. Mats Zuccarello continued his impressive play by getting to a Callahan rebound for his sixth which put them up 2-0. Zuccarello also assisted on Richards’ goal. Since Vigneault sat him out at Detroit, he’s been one of their most consistent players. Where would they be without him? Scary stuff.

The game swung when Cam Janssen was credited with his third after the puck went off his skate. Tim Sestito’s centering feed was directed in by Janssen. Depending on which side you’re on, it was either a good goal as Toronto confirmed upholding the decision or a deliberate kick which upset Lundqvist.

”I thought it was a kick, but it doesn’t matter,” he said. ”They got it, and in the end they just managed to get the bounces. It’s a frustrating loss.”

”We knew we were going to need some depth contributions,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. ”We got them from Janssen, the fourth line, Peter Harrold, who I thought was excellent.

”We needed a lot of energy, and those guys gave it to us.”

The Rangers still led by one. Ultimately, they couldn’t finish off a pesky opponent that never quits. It was the Devils who were playing the second of a back-to-back. Yet they had enough determination to rally back in the third. Travis Zajac and Michael Ryder each scored to put them up 3-2. It was looking like another lost night until Zajac accidentally cleared the puck over the glass with 1:11 left.  That allowed the Rangers to pull Lundqvist for a six-on-four. It wasn’t looking promising until McDonagh got a shot through which deflected off Callahan rebounding out to Kreider, who was able to chip a backhand over Brodeur. A strong play by a hard working player. Despite only taking two penalties, the second was enough to lose.

”My intent was to swing around and get his stick, but it comes up too high and catches him,” Callahan lamented. ”It’s a bad penalty. It cost us a point.”

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Mats Zuccarello, Rangers (goal-6th of season, assist, +2 in 18:58-can they clone him?)

2nd Star-Tim Sestito, Devils (2 assists, +2 in 10:45-you deserve to lose if he gets 2 points)

1st Star-Cam Janssen, Devils (3rd of season, entered season with three career-of course he scored)