The Rangers finally found a way to close one out.
After a rough start to preseason play, New York erased a two-goal deficit and edged the Devils 1-0 in a shootout, getting its first win after falling behind 2-0 through two periods. The comeback was built on a sharp third period and a steady night from Joonas Korpisalo, who stopped all three New Jersey shootout attempts.
It did not look promising early. The Rangers spent much of the first two periods chasing the game, and the opening Devils goal came on a power-play chance. That was a familiar problem after New York’s second preseason game against the Islanders, when the Rangers jumped out to a 3-0 lead before losing control and giving up three power-play goals in a 4-0 defeat.
This time, the response came after the second intermission.
Will Cuylle got New York on the board 3:10 into the third period, slipping a shot past Nico Daws with assists from Gabe Perreault and Matthew Robertson. A little more than two minutes later, Anton Blidh tied it at two with his second goal of the preseason, finishing a setup from Glenn Gowdin and Perreault.
Then Scott Morrow pushed the Rangers ahead. At the 10:03 mark of the period, the defenseman scored with assists from Cuylle and Matt Rempe, both of whom are trying to earn spots on the opening night roster.
New York carried that 3-2 lead for a while, but the Devils kept pressing and eventually pulled their goalie. The extra skater paid off when Amadeus Lombardi beat Korpisalo to make it 3-3.
Overtime brought a Rangers power play and a two-minute 4-on-3 edge, but Daws kept New York off the board, sending the game to a shootout. Korpisalo then shut the door completely, turning aside all three Devils shooters. Cuylle scored for New York as the second shooter, while Perreault was stopped on the Rangers’ first attempt.
The Rangers wrap up their preseason on Friday against the Islanders at UBS Arena.
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