Rangers rally to edge Devils

Associated Press
11/14/2006 9:53:04 PM

NEW YORK (AP) - Jaromir Jagr scored two goals 26 seconds apart and Brendan Shanahan finished off a most improbable third-period rally just over a minute later to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory that snapped the New Jersey Devils' season-high, four-game winning streak Tuesday night.

A 2-0 Devils lead was erased in a 1:30 span, leaving goalie Martin Brodeur hanging his head and Rangers fans derisively chanting "Mar-ty Mar-ty."

Henrik Lundqvist withstood New Jersey's late pressure once Brodeur was pulled for an extra skater and finished with 20 saves to give the Rangers their first home victory since defeating the Devils on Oct. 16. They are 5-1-1 in their last seven overall.

Jagr tied it 26 seconds after his first goal with arguably the ugliest of his 598 career goals. Jagr wound up from near the right-wing boards but shanked a shot high into the air. It floated and fluttered toward the goal and eluded a leaping Brodeur, who had both arms in the air.

Rangers forward Jason Ward was stationed at the left post and had his stick ready to tip the shot as it fell past the crossbar. He didn't make contact, and the puck dropped in.

Shanahan finished the spurt at 3:35 on the Rangers' fifth shot of the period when he beat diving Devils defenceman Johnny Oduya to Michal Rozsival's long lead pass and came in alone on Brodeur to score his 14th of the season.

Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Gionta each scored, with assists from defenceman Brian Rafalski, but the Devils went only 1-for-6 on the power play - including three penalties against Jagr. New Jersey had won six of seven.

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