2012-01-14

New York, NY- Todd Bertuzzi of the New York Rangers scored three minutes and nine seconds into overtime Saturday morning to life the Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils.

The first period went goalless, but featured the Devils first fight of the season. Captain Shane Doan did not like the stuff coming out of the month of Colin Fraser, so he beat the tar out of him at the 8:16 mark.

The second period would see more action.

The Rangers (2-1-0) started the stanza on a power play, courtesy of a John Carlson hook. Just 10 seconds into the period, Brian Gionta took the opening faceoff that was won by Scott Gomez, and drifted down the right side boards. He put a high lobbing wrist shot on Kari Lehtonen, who lost the pucks in the lights, and went in second goal of the season. After a terrible hooking call on Tom Gilbert, Gionta would make it 2-0 with another power play goal. This one came from Gomez and Logan Couture at 4:23.

But the Devils were not to be run out of MSG. With Tom Gilbert off again (really refs?), Martin Erat would get his first as a Devil. Boyd Gordon would start the shot-handed goal by winning the defensive draw back Brent Seabrook. Seabrook found Erat on a stretch pass to the center circle. With Rangers closing on his as he approached the top of the slut, Erat snapped a shot that clicked off the left post and behind Rangers-big ticket-goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov. The Devils tied when they finally received a power play. With Bertuzzi off for a case of blatant interference, Patrik Berglund scored his first of the season at 9:02. Erat begin the play but missing the net with a shot. The puck went up the boards to the left point where John Carlson kept the puck in the zone. Carlson fired a snap shot towards the net but it was blocked by Gionta. Berglund was Johnny-on-the-spot and snapped the rebound passed a universe-studying Bryzgalov.

The tied game wouldnt last for long. At 10:55, Gomez, snapping in a pass from Marc Staal, put the Rangers on top

In the third period, the Devils (2-0-1) received a break when Staal was called for the rare close-hand-on-puck penalty. Doan would convert on that power play with just 4:56 remaining in the third period. The Devils fired a series of shots on the Rangers goal. First Berglund shot and Bryzgalov gave a juicy rebound at the left circle to Lubomir Visnovsky, but his slapshot fired wide of the net. The puck bounced off the back boards to the right circle to a waiting Doan, who fired it home before the Rangers goalie could get across the crease.

With the scored tied at three, the game went to overtime. Unlike the last two contests for the Devils, this one would be decided in the 4-on-4 overtime period. At 3:09, Bertuzzi sent the 13,078 home smiling when he fired a snapshot toward the legs of defenseman Randy Jones and through the legs of Lehtonen.

Somewhere, somehow after last nights game with the Blues, and prior to this one, winger Mike Comrie has been suspended by BRHL2 for 99 days!!! Of the available bodies on the roster (Marcel Goc, David Clarkson, Ryan Wilson), apparently only Wilson brought his skates to the arena as he was dressed as an extra defenseman. Wilson did not see the ice at all.

Tomorrow morning the Devils welcome the Flyers for the second time this season. Sim time is again set for 10 am.

SWAMP THINGS- Brent Seabrook led all players in ice time with 30:57Valtteri Filppula was 6-for-7 on faceoffsDavid Clarkson is expected to take Comries third line position with Mason Raymond moving from the right to left sideCarlson left the game with a knee injury in the third period, but expects to play against the FlyersDavid Spina has been called to replace Comrie on the roster.

http://brhlhockey.com/brhl2/File/2012-RegularSeason/BRHL2-36.html