The two-word mantra “still alive” was being espoused from all corners of the Rangers’ room Sunday afternoon.

“We are trying to climb in the standings,” captain Ryan Callahan said after the Rangers 4-1 win over the Devils Sunday afternoon at the Garden.

The Rangers are 24-17-5 this season, and have won three in a row. The Rangers have 52 points with three games remaining — all against teams who are out of the playoffs.

“We aren’t looking behind us,” Callahan said. “It’s another two points. Now we have to get more.”

Facing a hated rival who was playing the second game of a weekend back-to-back, and was the team that eliminated them from the Stanley Cup playoffs last May, the Rangers were focused on starting quickly.

They did just that.

Callahan pinballed Carl Hagelin’s behind-the-goal-line feed off of Martin Brodeur’s skate just 34 seconds into the match.

The Rangers are 16-2-1 this season when scoring first.

“We have been getting some bounces,” Callahan said. He later flipped in a power-play knuckler 5:13 into the third period that pushed the advantage to 4-0. “[We are] getting some chances. [Derek Stepan], Hags and I have been playing well together. It’s just a matter of converting when you have opportunities.”

Energized by the quick goal, the Rangers surged and led 2-0 at intermission. Stepan scored the other goal in the period with a redirection of a Ryan McDonagh pass. The Rangers had more shot attempts, 16-10, in the period.

Taylor Pyatt’s first goal since Feb. 26 increased the lead to 3-0 at 11:56 of the second period.

“We were just trying to be simple and use our forechecking strength,” McDonagh said. “Get in their zone and grind it out.”

The Rangers accomplished their goal, and in doing so drove the Devils to distraction.

For a team that needed to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Devils spent much of the afternoon expressing frustration toward referees Chris Rooney and Francois St. Laurent.

Devils head coach Pete DeBoer was assessed a game misconduct with 15 seconds remaining and was ejected. A bench minor against the Devils for abuse of officials was assessed in the first, and Patrik Elias was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty early in the third.

“There was frustration,” DeBoer said. “It’s obviously not the way you want to go out. But that’s how it ends for us. We will have to regroup and move forward.”

The Devils will miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, and for only the fourth time in the last quarter century.

“It hasn’t sunk in,” DeBoer said. “I think you don’t want to think about it until it’s actually a reality. [There is] no other word than disappointment.”

To a man, the Rangers expressed no satisfaction in eliminating the Devils from the playoffs. Three hundred and thirty-one days earlier, at the Prudential Center, Adam Henrique’s tap-in 63 seconds into overtime sent the Devils to the Stanley Cup final while the Rangers began a summer overhaul that saw the organization eventually acquire Rick Nash.

“We weren’t worried about them or that,” Callahan said when asked about eliminating the Devils. “It’s all about us and it has been all year.”

“We weren’t thinking about last year,” McDonagh said. “This is a totally different [season] and we’re trying to fight for our lives.”

The Rangers went 1-for-6 in 9:15 worth of power-play time. The Devils did not convert on either of their two power plays.

Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves. Andrei Loktionov scored his eighth goal of the season with 6:30 remaining to keep the Devils from being shutout. Brodeur allowed all four goals on 22 shots.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Call it a debut redux.

The Islanders will host the Devils in a preseason game at the Barclays Center on Sept. 21, the franchise and arena said Tuesday in a joint statement.

“We are delighted to give Brooklyn a sneak peak at its future hometown NHL team this September as we welcome the Islanders to Barclays Center for the first time. There’s a lot of excitement about professional hockey bound for Brooklyn, where the Islanders have a terrific opportunity to grow their fan base and build their brand,” Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said. “The team is showing great resurgence this season, with young star John Tavares, and is on the verge of making the playoffs. We’re proud to continue to bring top sports and entertainment to Barclays Center and we look forward to welcoming Brooklyn’s newest team.”

The game will be the first professional hockey game contested in the state-of-the-art arena, and the future home of the Islanders. The teams were scheduled to play a preseason game at the Barclays Center last October, but the game was cancelled due to the lockout.

During the lockout, the franchise and arena announced the Islanders will play their home games at the Barclays Center beginning in the 2015-16 season.

“Over the past 40 years, Nassau Coliseum has been one of the best buildings to attend and watch a hockey game. Our fans create an atmosphere that is second to none where you can feel the energy inside the Coliseum when the team makes a big play. I’m excited for our fans to bring that energy and have the ability to enjoy an Islanders game while taking advantage of the world class amenities at Barclays Center, that stand above and beyond what any other arena provides,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in the statement. “This preseason game will be their first opportunity to do so. Our strong group of young talent is ready to take the ice in their future home, Barclays Center.”

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on April 17 at the Barclays Center box office and on Ticketmaster.

Growth spurt

Islanders head coach Jack Capuano has espoused growth as the theme throughout the season.

He has seen growth. Now, as the Islanders enter the final nine games of the regular season as the Eastern Conference No. 8 seed, he needs to see more in order for the team to clinch its first playoff berth since 2007.

“We talk about it. They know the position we’re in,” Capuano said following the morning skate at Nassau Coliseum. “They should be excited. They got themselves into the situation that they wanted to be in as a group. Now these last 27 periods are going to be tough and it’s going to be harder as you go.”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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1) Chicago Blackhawks (27-5-3, previous No. 2) – The Blackhawks regain the top spot since they’ve won two games in a row and most importantly, they have less injuries to key players than the Penguins. Patrick Sharp could return this week, which will only help Chicago’s NHL-best goal-differential of plus-43.

2) Pittsburgh Penguins (28-9-0, previous No. 2) – Pittsburgh’s 15-game winning streak ended on Tuesday against Buffalo but more importantly, Sidney Crosby (who would be the NHL MVP right now) is out indefinitely after breaking his jaw on Saturday. We’ll have to see how the Penguins play with newcomer Jarome Iginla in the lineup, but no Crosby.

3) Montreal Canadiens (23-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Habs didn’t make any real moves at the trade deadline which signifies confidence in their current group. They’ve won their last three games and they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Montreal is 2-1 against Boston this season and they have a chance to wrap up the season series on Saturday at the Bell Centre vs. the Bruins.

4) Anaheim Ducks (24-7-5, previous No. 3) – The Ducks haven’t been themselves lately (4-4-2 in their last 10 games), or perhaps they are finally regressing to the mean after an incredible start. The Ducks begin a five-game homestand tonight (tied for their longest of the season) which is bizarre since they played Dallas on Monday then they play them Wednesday and Friday (three games in a row).

5) Boston Bruins (23-8-4, previous No. 5) – Other than Iginla and Marion Gaborik, the B’s made probably the biggest acquisition of the trade deadline by getting Jaromir Jagr. After playing listlessly for a few weeks, they’ve won their last two games thanks to backup goaltender Anton Khudobin, who earned back-to-back starts (allowing two combined goals). Their concern is Patrice Bergeron’s health after the do-everything center left Tuesday’s game with a possible concussion.

6) Minnesota Wild (21-12-2, previous No. 6) – The Wild are in a dogfight for home ice with Vancouver but they made a nice move by trading for Buffalo captain Jason Pominville (10 goals, 15 assists) before the deadline. He should help create more balance between their lines that are very top heavy.

7) Vancouver Canucks (19-11-6, previous No. 7) – The Canucks were another winner from the trade deadline since they got Derek Roy (18 assists) from the Stars for a prospect and second-round draft pick. Vancouver tried to flip Roberto Luongo to Toronto but his albatross of a contract held them back from getting it done.

8) Los Angeles Kings (20-13-3, previous No. 10) – The Kings obtained defenseman Robin Regehr from the Sabres but other than that, the defending Stanley Cup champs are healthy and still loaded with talent. Thanks to Jeff Carter (20 goals, 4th in NHL), the Kings have scored more goals (104) than expected.

9) Toronto Maple Leafs (20-12-4, previous No. 12) – Toronto has won its last three games but it is weird that they didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline since their situation in goal is still muddled at best. It looks like they’ll make the playoffs which is a big deal for them, but advancing is another story.

10) San Jose Sharks (18-11-6, previously No. 14) – The Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL with five straight wins. It has taken them this long, but they have finally started to live up to their abilities – although it is interesting that they traded one of their emotional leaders, Ryane Clowe, to the Rangers for draft picks.

11) Ottawa Senators (18-11-6, previous No. 8) – If the Senators make the playoffs, they have to hope they don’t play the Bruins. Boston has won all four games against Ottawa this season (they meet once more) and making that more painful, they have all been by one goal. Craig Anderson is close to returning which is why they flipped backup goaltender Ben Bishop to Buffalo for rookie winger Cory Conacher.

12) Detroit Red Wings (18-13-5, previous No. 9) – The Red Wings didn’t make a single trade around the deadline which is interesting since this underachieving team hasn’t played nearly well enough to earn that respect. They are the only team currently in the top eight in the West without a positive goal-differential (zero).

13) New York Islanders (18-13-6, previous No. 19) – Nobody could have imagined this, and we’re still four weeks away from the playoffs, but at this moment the Islanders are the best team in the New York area (Islanders, Rangers, Devils and Sabres). Their next three games are against teams outside the top eight in the East: Washington, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia so they need to rack up the points there.

14) St. Louis Blues (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Now that the Sharks have gained their skating legs, the Blues have to be called the most underachieving team in the West. Still, they are hanging on to the eighth spot so they haven’t been a complete train wreck. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who they obtained from Calgary, should help them right away.

15) Edmonton Oilers (15-13-7, previously not ranked) – People have been waiting for years and it looks like the Oilers have finally put together enough good players to get to the playoffs. They have their work cut out for them since the West is better than the East but they’ve won their last four games and are playing well when it counts.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-12-9, previous No. 16) – The Islanders, Devils and Rangers are likely battling for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Of those, I like the New York teams better since New Jersey is treading water (3-3-4 in last 10 games) and their goal-differential is minus-11.

17) Nashville Predators (15-14-8, previously No. 17) – Pekka Rinne isn’t himself, although it’s not all his fault since the Predators are one of the lowest scoring teams in the West with 92 goals. Getting a goal-scorer seemed obvious at the deadline but apparently the front office felt otherwise.

18) Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-7, previous No. 20) – The race for the eighth seed in the West is going to be one of the NHL’s best heading into the postseason and the Blue Jackets honestly have a decent chance to make it. The lowest scoring team (87 goals) in the West should receive a huge boost from Marion Gaborik (9 goals, 10 assists) who was having a poor season with the Rangers but he scored 41 goals last season and 40-plus two other times in the NHL.

19) New York Rangers (17-15-3, previous No. 15) – I have no idea why the Rangers traded their best goal-scorer when they have scored the fewest goals in the NHL (82) … and if they miss the playoffs, that will be the main reason why. Forwards Derick Brassard (7 goals) and Derek Dorsett (3 goals) along with defenseman John Moore (zero goals) better fit their trapping defensive style, but none of them can put the puck in the net.

20) Winnipeg Jets (18-18-2, previous No. 2) – The Jets are free-falling and they are only two points ahead of the Capitals for first place in the Southeast Division after losing four straight games. They are 3-7-0 with a goal-differential of minus-22 … not the resume of a playoff team in anybody’s eyes.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Records through March 18:

1. Chicago Blackhawks (24-2-3, previous No. 1) – There was actually the thought of dropping the Blackhawks to No. 2 for the first time this season but they are still five points ahead of the Ducks. The Blackhawks travel to Anaheim Wednesday for their second meeting of the season. The Ducks won, 3-2, in a shootout in Chicago on Feb. 12.

2. Anaheim Ducks (21-3-4, previous No. 2) – Anaheim hasn’t lost in regulation in its last 11 games (8-0-3) and the Ducks have won their last 12 games at the Honda Center. There is no question that they are the hottest team in the Western Conference. Wednesday’s game is a possible Western Conference Finals preview, so be sure to check it out on the NHL Network.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (22-8-0, previous No. 5) – Having won nine games in a row, the Penguins are the hottest team in the NHL. They beat the Bruins twice last week (highly impressive) and have scored an NHL-high 108 goals. A wrist injury to their best defenseman, Kris Letang, could be a serious issue.

4. Montreal Canadiens (19-5-4, previous No. 4) – It’s time to stop pretending that Montreal’s great start this season was a fluke. The Habs are legitimately one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and NHL. They’ve won five consecutive games and they are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. Most impressive, they have been great on the road (10-2-2) as well as at the Bell Centre (9-3-2).

5. Boston Bruins (19-5-3, previous No. 3) – The Bruins came up short in both showdowns in Pittsburgh last week but they seem to be getting better at putting away inferior opponents. They dodged a major bullet as top line center David Krejci’s knee injury doesn’t appear all that serious. Still, injuries are an issue with third line center Chris Kelly out.

6. Los Angeles Kings (16-10-2, previous No. 6) – Their slow start has been pretty much forgotten as the Kings have owned games at the Staples Center (11-2-1). Similar to their playoff run last season, they are getting goals from many different lines and players along with solid goaltending (even though Jonathan Quick isn’t fully up to speed just yet).

7. Minnesota Wild (16-10-2, previous No. 8) – Minnesota has leaped over Vancouver for the lead in the Northwest Division. The Wild have won three games in a row and they are 7-3-0 in their last 10. It’s hard to see them getting higher than this but they have to be satisfied with where they sit at the moment.

8. Ottawa Senators (15-8-6, previous No. 10) – The Senators are still hanging around despite all their major injuries. Having the best record at home (10-1-3) in the Eastern Conference has helped them stay afloat through the tough times. They are 4-2-4 in their last 10 games, showing how either way it usually comes down to the wire for them.

9. St. Louis Blues (16-10-2, previous No. 15) – Called up from the minors, goaltender Jake Allen (8-1-0, 2.18 GAA, .920 save percentage) has been a revelation while Chris Stewart (14 goals, 14 assists) was the NHL’s No. 1 star last week after five goals (two game-winners) and two assists. The Blues aren’t going to catch the Blackhawks but they have a good chance to finish second in the Central Division.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (15-11-2, previous No. 7) – It looks like the Hurricanes are in for a competitive race with the Jets in the Southeast Division but Carolina has been doing enough lately (6-3-1 in their last 10 games) to be ranked ahead of Winnipeg. Carolina only has two games left this week, both at home, against the Panthers and Devils so they should continue to earn points.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-10-5, previous No. 11) – Coming off possibly its best win of the season, a 5-2 victory at Vancouver on Saturday, Detroit has the toughest week of anyone in the NHL. They host Minnesota Wednesday, then go to Anaheim for two games (Friday and Sunday). Needless to say, they have to get a positive result against the Wild because the Ducks are nearly impossible to beat at home.

12. Vancouver Canucks (13-9-6, previous No. 14) – Don’t let this ranking fool you, the Canucks are struggling. They’ve lost their last two games and they are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. Most troubling, it’s hard to figure out how a roster loaded with talent has a goal-differential of minus-2. If only the Sedin twins had any sort of leadership skills, then maybe Vancouver wouldn’t be in this situation.

13. Winnipeg Jets (15-12-2, previous No. 20) – The Jets have been one of the hotter teams in the Eastern Conference (6-3-1 in their last 10 games). They are a .500 team at home (6-6-0) but they have a chance to improve on that mark this week with four straight games at home. That includes back-to-back nights against the Capitals on Thursday and Friday.

14. New York Rangers (14-12-2, previous No. 12) – You still can’t trust the Rangers. They look great one night, then hopeless the next. They are 10-5-1 at Madison Square Garden and if they can win on the road (4-7-1), they will really be onto something. The Rangers need to find a way to score more goals since they have an Eastern Conference low, 67.

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-12-2, previous No. 9) – The Leafs have been treading water lately (4-4-2) which is still good enough to put them in front of some of the train wrecks in the Eastern Conference (looking at you Florida and Buffalo). A home-and-home with the Bruins on Saturday and Monday, a team that has absolutely owned them, will tell us whether to take Toronto seriously moving forward this season.

16. New Jersey Devils (13-10-6, previous No. 16) – Martin Brodeur has returned to practice, but not games for the Devils … about the best thing I can say about them. They are falling apart, hanging on to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a terrible goal-differential of minus-9. It would be nice if Ilya Kovalchuk (10 goals, 15 assists) could carry them a bit more through the tough times but this is who he has become.

17. San Jose Sharks (12-10-6, previous No. 13) – You could argue that the Sharks have been the biggest underachievers in the NHL (Flyers fans rejoice!) and I wouldn’t disagree. Perhaps it’s time to break up this current cast that has been together for too long without ever really doing anything notable when it matters. It’s shocking that they have only scored 67 goals this season with all those great forwards.

18. Phoenix Coyotes (13-12-4, previous No. 17) – Being one of the worst road teams in the Western Conference (3-7-3) is holding the Coyotes back from being a better team. They have the pieces to be a playoff team but if they started today, they’d be on the outside (ninth place). Something is up with Mike Smith (11-9-3, 2.86 GAA, .900 save percentage) and they won’t go anywhere with their franchise goaltender playing like that.

19. New York Islanders (13-12-3, previous not ranked) – One of the biggest jokes in the NHL the last decade, the Isles are finally starting to turn it around thanks to John Tavares (17 goals, 14 assists) and a great record on the road (8-4-1). They have been playing well (5-3-2), winners of two in a row, but it’s hard to see that continuing when they’ve allowed so many goals (91).

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-12-6, previous not ranked) – This is not a misprint, the Blue Jackets haven’t lost in regulation (6-0-4) in their last 10 games. They have gone to overtime in nine of their last 10 games, which is insane. Not surprisingly, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (9-6-5, 2.00 GAA, .932 save percentage) was the NHL’s third star last week since he’s been on fire.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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The second installment of the Hudson River Rumble was a wild, mean-edged affair befitting two rivals separated by 10 miles and a history of mutual revulsion.

The season series is tied at one game apiece after the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Devils at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night. The Rangers have won consecutive games and took sole possession of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Last night’s win also snapped a three-game losing streak on the road.

“That’s a big win,” Ryan Callahan said. “[It] means a lot. [We took] the next step [after beating Carolina Monday night]. Big win for us. Big two points for us.”

Against an opponent whose pedigree required everyone to contribute, it was the Rangers’ best players who did the heavy lifting. Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves, J.T. Miller looked to create offense at every opportunity, Michael Del Zotto finished with two points, and the top line of Rick Nash, Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik combined for 14 shot attempts and a goal.

“I thought we stuck with it,” Rangers head coach John Tortorella said. “I’m happy with the team.”

Prior to Monday night’s win over the Hurricanes, Tortorella reformed the top line of Nash, Richards and Gaborik. The trio was creative and generated chances throughout the match against the Southeast Division leaders. They did much the same against the Devils.

“Generated [chances],” Tortorella said of the line. “[They were] getting looks. [They] did some good things.”

Nash’s goal 7:25 into the second period was the game winner. Nash ripped a drive from the right faceoff circle past Hedberg for the go-ahead goal. The goal was Nash’s team-leading 10th of the season, and it broke a 2-2 tie.

“[I] think we caught them in a bad change,” Nash said of the game-winner. “[The defenseman] was cheating [for the pass] so I thought to shoot. Tonight they seemed to be going in.”

The rivals alternated goals in the first period. Del Zotto (11:49) opened the scoring with a shorthanded deflection and Carl Hagelin gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead with his eighth of the season.

Del Zotto’s goal marked only the 11th time in 29 games that the Rangers scored a game-opening goal.

“I’ll take it,” Del Zotto said. The goal, his third of the season, was his first since Jan. 29. “I feel like I had my chances.”

But the leads were short-lived as Travis Zajac potted a power-play goal at 15:15 and Anton Volchenkov added an even strength marker at 17:13.

“We wanted to be aggressive,” Del Zotto said. “We had some chances.”

That was all Lundqvist would allow for the rest of the game.

The reigning Vezina winner was routinely spectacular in the second period as he stopped all 12 Devils shots, including an Ilya Kovalchuk bullet and a Steve Bernier backhander on the same power play which kept the game tied at 2-2.

Nash broke the deadlock exactly 22 seconds after Lundqvist stopped Bernier.

“[He] gives us momentum,” Nash said of Lundqvist. “That’s what he did in that second period.”

“He does a pretty damn good job [of stopping shots],” Tortorella said of Lundqvist. “He’s focused right in his little world.”

The Devils are 0-2-1 in their last three games.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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It is an inescapable theme: the Rangers need offense.

“It’s no secret we’re [struggling],” Derek Stepan said Tuesday afternoon before the Rangers-Devils game at the Prudential Center. Despite their 2-1 shootout win over the Hurricanes Monday night, the Rangers have only scored 64 goals in 28 games.

The Rangers do not have a player in double-figure goal scoring. Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan are tied for the team lead with nine goals apiece.

So what has to change?

“Try to get yourself in a dirty area,” Stepan said. Stepan scored the Rangers’ lone non-shootout goal Monday night on a play in which he drilled a bullet past Dan Ellis, who was screened by Callahan. “Pretty simple.”

While the Rangers could use Chris Kreider, they will not “keep knee-jerking” him from AHL Connecticut and ruin his development.

Kreider has 11 goals and 19 points with the Whale this season. He has scored six goals in eight games with the Whale since being sent down on Feb. 16.

But despite what Rangers head coach John Tortorella termed “good reports” on Kreider from the coaching staff at the Whale, the wing will not be a short-term fix.

“[The organization does not] want to keep knee-jerking him,” Tortorella said. “We’re dying to get a guy — 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3 and can skate like hell — but [we’re not going to do it] at the expense of him and the expense of [his] development.”

Points over rivalry

The Hudson River Rivalry is a given, but for the Devils, a possible two points is more important than reviving hostilities with the Rangers.

The Devils entered last night’s game in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the No. 9 seed Rangers. The salary cap-created parity has 13 of the 15 Eastern Conference teams and 14 of the 15 Western Conference teams still alive in the playoff race.

“Obviously the rivalry is always there but I think where we are in the standings, there’s probably a mixture of eight or nine teams. We’re all battling it out for the last few spots. I think that’s going to be like that for the next month,” Devils head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters after the Devils’ morning skate at the Prudential Center.

“For us we have to find a way to pick up points every night,” DeBoer said. “Even on the nights we don’t win, we have to find a way to get games to overtime, to win your shootout opportunities when you get them. Those are all opportunities to pick up points instead of leaving them on the table.”

Brodeur activated

The Devils announced early Tuesday afternoon goaltender Martin Brodeur had been activated from the injured reserve. Goaltender Jeff Frazee was reassigned to AHL Albany in the corresponding roster move. The Devils also called up Tim Sestito from AHL Albany.

Brodeur told reporters after practice Monday he had been bothered by a pinched nerve. He backed up Johan Hedberg last night and it is thought he will start tomorrow night in Carolina.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The devastation the Devils wrought on the Flyers was as quick as it was thorough.

The Devils scored three goals in the first period and cruised to a 5-2 win over the Flyers Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.

Patrik Elias, Adam Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk scored in the opening 20 minutes for the Devils, who have won three of their last four games.

“We haven’t had many games like that in the last two months,” Devils head coach Pete DeBoer said. “Nice change.”

Andrei Loktionov (6:31 of the second period) and Henrique (1:16 of the third period) added markers in the final 40 minutes. Nine Devils finished with at least one point and 13 Devils were plus-1 or better. Johan Hedberg stopped 23-of-25 shots.

Elias began the rout just 2:02 into the match with his ninth goal. Stationed behind the net, Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros’s clearing pass was intercepted by Steve Bernier. Bernier fired a shot on goal that Ilya Bryzgalov (27 saves) stopped, but he could not control the rebound and Henrique set up Elias for the goalmouth backhander with a gorgeous, no-look between-the-legs pass.

“[I] just tried to get it back to the net and Patty [made a good play],” Henrique said.

Added Elias: “[I] just popped out to the [slot and the puck] came to me there.”

The Flyers have lost four of their last five games. Jacob Voracek’s power play goal 9:45 into the first evened the match between the Atlantic Division rivals at 1-1. Voracek later assisted on Scott Hartnell’s goal at 16:08 into the third.

It took Henrique just 39 seconds to break the deadlock. The second-year center drove to the net and Elias’s point shot ricocheted off him and Matt Read past Bryzgalov to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.

“It nice,” Henrique said of the early outburst. “I thought the entire team played well tonight. [It’s a] huge win for us.”

Kovalchuk’s NHL-leading fourth shorthanded goal of the season increased the lead to 3-1. Stephen Gionta forced a turnover in the defensive zone and banked the puck off the boards to spring Kovalchuk. The left wing raced up the boards and ripped a drive that beat Bryzgalov high to the glove side.

“Lucky bounce for us,” Kovalchuk said. “Decided to shoot short side.”

Loktionov pushed the advantage to 4-1 at 6:31 into the second period. Loktionov broke in on a two-on-one with Alexei Ponikarovsky and toe-dragged Braydon Coburn out of the play before beating Bryzgalov high for his fourth goal as a Devil.

“[I] tried to pull it back and then I shot it,” Loktionov said.

Henrique’s potted his second goal of the game 1:16 into the third with a power play backhander. The Devils were 1-for-6 on the man advantage and killed three of the Flyers’ four power plays.

The Devils lost Elias and Krystofer Barch on the same play early in the third period. Elias was hooked and went feet first into the end boards while Danny Briere slammed Barch into the corner boards. Both went to the locker room, but said they were fine.

“I’ve been hit harder with a fist,” Barch said. “He apologized.”

Even with the win, the Devils are seventh in the East despite having the same number of points (31) as the Maple Leafs. Toronto (15-11-1) has won two more games than the Devils (13-9-5).

But the Devils believe the way they are playing puts them in position to solidify a playoff spot.

“We’re a confident group,” Henrique said. “[It’s] nice anytime you can get a streak going.”

The teams will conclude the home-and-home Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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It is all about perspective for the Devils.

The reigning Eastern Conference champions recognize that entering last night’s nationally televised Turnpike Tussle with the Flyers they had lost 9-of-13 dating back to Feb. 15.

But instead of dwelling on the negative, head coach Pete DeBoer is pointing to the fact that the Devils have won two-of-their-last-three games.

“It’s never perfect in a coach’s eyes but I think we’re getting rewarded for some of our hard work lately,” DeBoer told reporters Wednesday morning. “Which is what we needed and hopefully we can build on that.”

The Devils entered last night’s game seventh in the Eastern Conference with 29 points. They are two points behind sixth seed Toronto and lead the eighth seeded Rangers by a point.

The Devils have 22 games remaining this season. Of the 22 games remaining, 11 are at home and 11 are on the road. The Devils are 8-3-2 at the Prudential Center, but are only 4-6-3 away from Newark.

Flyers “done”?

Despite a 3-2 win over the Sabres on Sunday, the Flyers are 11th in the East with 25 points. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov told reporters after the Flyers practice Tuesday that the season would be “done” if the Devils swept the home-and-home, and left wing Scott Hartnell called out his teammates for bad body language following the 3-0 loss to the Bruins at the TD Garden on Saturday.

“If one thing goes wrong, whether it a be bad call or the first goal on that power play where he made a great play, you look down the bench and everyone’s heads are down. We were deflated right from that,” Hartnell said after the loss. “That’s not what good teams do. It’s on us to pick each other up and support each other and be positive. It just seemed like we were down 1-0 and it seemed like we packed it in.”

So the Devils were acutely aware of the importance the Flyers placed on last night’s nationally televised matchup.

“You don’t have to dwell on it. They’re aware. Philly-New Jersey matchup, whether it’s in July or a season on the line, is going to be emotional and the energy levels are going to be high. You don’t have to say a lot about it,” DeBoer said.

The Flyers and Devils are scheduled to meet at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday. The Devils have won the first two games of the five game season series.

Boucher signs deal

Late Wednesday afternoon the Devils announced right wing Reid Boucher signed an entry-level deal. Terms were undisclosed. The Devils drafted the OHL Sarnia Sting product with the 99th overall pick in the 2011 Entry Draft.

In two years with Sarnia, Boucher has scored 90 goals and 144 points in 132 games.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Records through March 11

1. Chicago Blackhawks (21-2-3, previous No. 1) – Somewhere the ’72 Miami Dolphins popped champagne when the Blackhawks went down 6-2 to the Avalanche on Friday, snapping their unbeaten in regulation streak at 24 games (half the regular season). Oh wait, wrong sport. Seriously though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chicago come back to Earth somewhat as they also lost 6-5 to the Oilers on Sunday.

2. Anaheim Ducks (18-3-3, previous No. 2) – Don’t look now but the Ducks are only six points (three wins) behind the Blackhawks. Given Chicago’s injuries at the moment, I might even like Anaheim’s chances against them in the playoffs. However, we’re still a month and a half away from that so no need to make rash judgments.

3. Boston Bruins (17-3-3, previous No. 4) – The B’s and Canadiens are in a virtual dead heat. They have even split their first two games (with both winning on the road). The only thing that separates them is that Boston has played three games less than Montreal and the Habs only have one more point. It feels like they’re building to another epic playoff series this spring. Wouldn’t that be great?

4. Montreal Canadiens (17-5-4, previous No. 3) The Canadiens have won three games in a row and they are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. Their goal-differential is plus-18 and they are 9-2-2 on the road. The Bruins might jump them this week since they have five games and the Canadiens only play twice. Winger Michael Ryder (two goals, seven assists) has been solid in his seven games back in a Montreal uniform.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-8-0, previous No. 5) – The Penguins are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference – they have won five games in a row entering Tuesday night’s showdown with Boston in Pittsburgh. It’s a huge week for the Penguins since they play four current playoff teams: Toronto, Rangers and Bruins (twice). We’ll see what kind of shape Pittsburgh is in next week after that gauntlet.

6. Los Angeles Kings (14-8-2, previous No. 9) – The defending Stanley Cup champs are the hottest team in the Western Conference: they are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and 9-2-1 at the Staples Center. Their formula of great goaltending from Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier, plus plenty of goals from Jeff Carter (17 goals, second in the NHL) has been working wonders.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (14-9-1, previous No. 10) – One team was added to the higher rung this week (Kings) but just like last week, after the top teams the drop-off to the mid-level teams is enormous. The Hurricanes have stayed afloat thanks to Alexander Semin’s 19 assists (sixth best in the NHL). They can put some more distance between themselves, Tampa Bay and Washington this week since they play the Capitals twice and the Lightning once.

8. Minnesota Wild (13-9-2, previous No. 14) – The Wild have played well lately (7-3-0) and they’ve been great at home all season (9-2-1). Their goal-differential of minus-1 and road record (4-7-1) say that they are frauds, but they also reside in the Western Conference’s worst division: Northwest. Minnesota has taken advantage of Vancouver’s inconsistent start.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-10-1, previous No. 7) – The Leafs have receded to their more fitting level as they’ve hit a tougher portion of their schedule. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games but they play the Jets twice this week, sandwiched around a game with the Penguins, so they need to get points against Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs are 9-5-0 on the road, where they’ve played two more games than at home so far.

10. Ottawa Senators (13-8-5, previously No. 11) – If there was an award for playing hard, the Senators would be a runaway favorite. Unfortunately, this isn’t Little League. Ottawa is getting the most out of its limited roster at the moment but the Sens have trouble when facing the more talented teams that can wear them down. Blowing a 2-0 lead at home to the Bruins on Monday couldn’t have made them feel too good about themselves either.

11. Detroit Red Wings (12-9-5, previous No. 19) – Honestly, the Red Wings didn’t do anything specifically to make this big of a jump from last week. But then again, they are playing a tad better than the rest of the teams are at their same level. Detroit is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and as always, they excel at home: 9-4-3. Figuring out how to win on the road (3-5-2) is the next step for them to take.

12. New York Rangers (13-9-2, previous No. 17) – The Rangers have clawed back into contention, playing their unique style of ugly, defensive hockey. Rick Nash (five goals, four assists) has been on fire in his last five games and has proven to be ready for the bright lights of New York City after toiling for years in Columbus. The Rangers can fatten up on the Sabres and Jets before facing the Penguins on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

13. San Jose Sharks (11-7-6, previous No. 12) – The Sharks have lost an NHL-high (tied with Vancouver) six games in overtime and they are 4-3 in shootouts this season. That seems like a risky proposition that is bound to catch up to them if they keep playing so many extra sessions. They are one of the more mercurial teams in the NHL since they are 7-1-4 at home but 4-6-2 on the road, plus they’ve lost their last two games (both in overtime).

14. Vancouver Canucks (11-7-6, previous No. 6) – Another team that is spinning its wheels and should be playing much better than they currently are. The Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and are 2-5 in shootouts. It might be time for them to shake things up with a roster that has been basically the same for years.

15. St. Louis Blues (13-10-2, previous No. 13) – Speaking of underachievers, the Blues are a squad that look better on paper than they do on the ice. They are 8-5-1 on the road ,which is promising, and have played three less games at home, but they are 5-5-1 there so that has to improve if they want to get anywhere.

16. New Jersey Devils (12-9-5, previous No. 15) – The Devils would have dropped more, if only there were fewer middling teams just like them. They are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games but they are still in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, mostly because the teams on the outside-looking-in are hopeless. Martin Brodeur can’t return soon enough since Johan Hedberg (4-7-2) has been terrible since taking over as the starter.

17. Phoenix Coyotes (12-10-3, previously No. 8) – It’s not that they have struggled that much lately or that I overrated them, it’s more that their division (Pacific) is the toughest in the NHL with four points between the second-place and fifth-place teams. It will probably be that way for the rest of the season since only Los Angeles (first in Pacific) is a notch above the rest.

18. Dallas Stars (12-10-2, previous No. 18) – The Stars continue to hang around which is probably the best-case scenario for them this season. Their goal-differential is 0 and they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games – it doesn’t get much more average than that.

19. Nashville Predators (10-9-6, previous No. 20) – The Predators put their two most talented forwards on IR Monday in Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist, which certainly doesn’t help a team that has still scored the fewest goals in the NHL (54, 31 less than Chicago and Anaheim). Pekka Rinne’s (9-8-5, 4 shutouts-best in the NHL) margin for error is smaller than any other goaltender in the NHL.

20. Winnipeg Jets (12-11-2, previously not ranked) – By virtue of being the only other team in the NHL over .500, the Jets make these rankings pretty much based solely on that. They are 8-5-2 on the road (they must be excited to get out of Winnipeg) and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Still, their goal-differential of minus-11 leaves something to be desired.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Records through Feb. 26

1) Chicago Blackhawks (16-0-3) – Off to the best start in NHL history qualifies Chicago for the coveted top spot in the inaugural power rankings of the season. The Blackhawks also lead the NHL with a ridiculous plus-24 goal differential and even backup goaltender Ray Emery (8-0-0) has played out of his mind while starter Corey Crawford has been out with an injury.

2) Boston Bruins (12-2-2) – It’s hard to argue that the B’s aren’t the Eastern Conference’s best team at the moment. They’ve won four in a row (all on the road) and are 8-1-1 away from TD Garden. Head coach Claude Julien couldn’t have dreamed of a better start for the Black and Gold.

3) Anaheim Ducks (13-3-1) – The surprise of the NHL so far has been the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks. Unknown rookie goaltender Viktor Fasth (8-1-0) has propelled Anaheim while ageless wonder Teemu Selanne (5 goals, 11 assists) is still getting it done at 42.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-0) – Few teams can match the Penguins’ top-end talent (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and James Neal) but they also have two major issues: Malkin is out with a concussion and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (10-4, 2.27 GAA) was a puddle in last season’s playoffs.

5) Montreal Canadiens (12-4-3) – They actually lead the Eastern Conference in points but the Bruins get the nod over since Boston has played three less games. They don’t score a ton which is why they traded for former Bruins winger Michael Ryder, who previously played in Montreal as well. The good Carey Price (10-3-2, 1.90 GAA) has so far made an appearance this season for the Habs.

6) Ottawa Senators (12-6-2) – Nobody deserves the amount of major injuries suffered already by the Senators to their best players: defenseman Erik Karlsson (out for the season), center Jason Spezza (out indefinitely) and goaltender Craig Anderson (day-to-day). Ottawa might be put together with duct tape but they’re making the best of it thus far, they’ve won five games in a row.

7) Vancouver Canucks (10-5-4) –The team that everyone loves to hate is off to its usual solid start. For some reason, they haven’t traded lame-duck goaltender Roberto Luongo (5-1-3) and he’s actually performed better than the projected starter Cory Schneider (5-4-1) … awkward!

8) New Jersey Devils (10-5-4) – This is misleading since the Devils are freefalling a bit with goaltender Martin Brodeur placed on IR earlier this week. Their games are not easy to watch but they usually get the job done. They are the defending Eastern Conference champions for a reason.

9) Nashville Predators (9-5-4) – The Predators still can’t score goals but goaltender Pekka Rinne (8-5-4, 1.90 GAA, 3 shutouts) is one of the NHL’s best and they’ve built the team around him. BU product Colin Wilson (5 goals, 10 assists) seems to be on the verge of a breakout season, in his fourth year in the league.

10) St. Louis Blues (10-6-2) – After a great start, the team that most resembles the Bruins in the Western Conference have come back to Earth (4-4-2 in their last 10). There is plenty of reason to believe in their deep and talented roster and they look to be built for the long run.

11) Toronto Maple Leafs (12-8-0) – It’s hard to trust a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade (2003-04) and sports the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL (45 years). Still, the Leafs are playing decently despite shaky goaltending (as always). Former Bruins whipping boy Phil Kessel (4 goals, 12 assists) hasn’t been finding the net at his usual clip.

12) Dallas Stars (10-8-2) – The Ryder trade, which netted Erik Cole in return. was about building cap space for the future. The Stars also sent a third round draft pick to Montreal. That won’t sell more tickets in an awful market. It’s hard to see this group staying at this level.

13) San Jose Sharks (9-6-3) – For the first few weeks, the Sharks were right there with the Blackhawks. Then they went 2-6-2 and started to fold faster than they normally do. Joe Thornton (4 goals, 15 assists) is still one of the top passers in the NHL but no team is under more pressure to do something in the playoffs than them.

14) Detroit Red Wings (9-7-3) – These aren’t your father’s Red Wings that steamrolled over everyone. With Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement, Detroit has suddenly taken a major step back in the West. Henrik Zetterberg (6 goals, 19 assists) and Pavel Datsyuk (8 goals, 14 assists) are still must-see TV.

15) Phoenix Coyotes (9-7-3) – Nobody really knows how or why this team is still stuck in the desert, the NHL’s worst decision now that Atlanta doesn’t have a team anymore, but they are not bad at all. The lack of a crowd doesn’t seem to affect them either considering they are 6-3-1 at home and 3-4-2 on the road.

16) Los Angles Kings (9-6-2) – The Stanley Cup champions have gotten off to a bumpy start but that shouldn’t be a shock since they snuck into the playoffs last spring as the No. 8 seed before their unforgettable run. They are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and have won four straight so they appear to be getting things in order.

17) Minnesota Wild (9-7-2) – Zach Parise (8 goals, 5 assists), the biggest free agent splash of last summer, predictably hasn’t lived up to his absurd price tag while the front office hasn’t surrounded him with much talent. They have scored an NHL-low 39 goals so it’s hard to see them making the playoffs without trading for another sniper.

18) Tampa Bay Lightning (9-9-1) – On the other end of the spectrum, the Lightning can score with the best of them (NHL-high 70 goals) but they still lack a true No. 1 goaltender. Steven Stamkos (14 goals, 16 assists) is basically unstoppable and should be the odds-on favorite to be the NHL MVP (Hart Trophy) this season.

19) Winnipeg Jets (9-9-1) – You won’t find a more boring team than the Jets. They don’t have any stars and they don’t do anything particularly well. Perhaps that’s fitting for such a non-descript outpost. Bruins fans have to laugh at Blake Wheeler (6 goals, 10 assists) being one of their top scorers.

20) Philadelphia Flyers (9-11-1) – I can’t really say the Flyers deserve to be ranked even this high but take a look at the other awful teams below them. Philly is here by default. They are 4-8-0 on the road and still haven’t solved their goaltending issue of the past 10 years or so.

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By Denis Gorman

The first chapter of the 2013 Hudson River Rumble picked up where the last chapter of the rivalry ended: a loss to the Devils at the Prudential Center.

The Rangers fell to 4-5-0 this season after being outclassed by the reigning Eastern Conference champions, 3-1, Tuesday night.

“We have some guys who are really playing hard and we have some guys who look scared,” Rangers head coach John Tortorella said. “I’ll tell you right now, I’m not waiting. We have some guys right now who are very tentative, very careful. We don’t play careful hockey.”

Adam Henrique and David Clarkson gave the Devils all the offense they would need in a 14:07 span of the first period. Henrique opened the scoring with an even-strength wrister from the slot past Henrik Lundqvist (19 saves) five minutes into the game. Clarkson scored the first of his two goals with 53 seconds left in the period.

“Two tough plays,” Lundqvist said of the first two goals. “[The Rangers] have to focus on our starts. [That was] not the start we were looking for. [The Rangers have to be] consistent. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Clarkson’s second of the game — and team-leading seventh of the season — came on the power play 2:53 into the third.

The Devils have won consecutive games and are 5-1-3.

As has been the case throughout the abbreviated season, the Rangers looked like a team still learning how to play with each other. More troubling was that Chris Kreider — who played for the first time since Jan. 23 — and AHL call-up J.T. Miller were the Rangers’ best players on the ice.

“They’re probably going to take some jobs,” Tortorella said. “We’re very happy with Kreider; I thought he played well. I thought Miller was hard on the puck, did some really good things. We’ll see where we go with the lineup.”

Only Kreider’s top shelf laser over Martin Brodeur (24 saves) 6:21 into the third kept the future Hall of Famer from notching his 121st career shutout. Nine of Brodeur’s NHL-record 120 shutouts have come against the Rangers.

Equally problematic has been the inability of the power play to provide any scoring punch. The Rangers entered the game 3-for-30 with the man advantage, and did not score on any of their five power plays Tuesday night.

“There’s a number of things [with the power play],” Brad Richards said. “[We are] out of sync [and] not reacting. Trying maybe to look for too much instead of just keeping it simple and getting shots. There’s a lot of different things when you’re not scoring on it.”

The Rangers only generated three shots on their power plays, with Marc Staal’s snap shot at 15:38 of the first being the most dangerous. However, Staal was not able to elevate the puck as it lay under Brodeur, who promptly froze it.

“Special teams let us down,” Tortorella said. “You need a goal on [the] power play at a certain time. It’s not so much percentages that you’re looking at right now. It’s getting a goal at a key time.”

Dan Girardi was scratched with an undisclosed injury. An organizational spokesperson wrote in a text message to Metro that Girardi was “just banged up” and “day-to-day.” One half of the Rangers’ top pair defense corps with Ryan McDonagh, Girardi had played in 82 games in four of his last five full seasons. He missed two games in the 2010-11 season.

“We missed him for sure,” McDonagh said. “He plays a ton of minutes, all the hard minutes. You can see from the goals they scored were ‘D’ zone plays. With that being said, we all know how to play as a team. Injuries are part of it, so we can’t use that as an excuse.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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By Denis Gorman

There was no time like the first installment of the Hudson River Rumble for J.T. Miller and Darroll Powe to make their Blueshirt debuts.

Miller and Powe, the two newest Rangers, dressed for last night’s game against the Devils at the Prudential Center.

“I’m excited to be here,” Powe said after the early skate at the Rock. He and Nick Palmieri were acquired in a trade from the Wild for left wing Mike Rupp, while Miller and Brandon Mashinter were called up from AHL Connecticut. Both transactions took place Monday.

Powe is 27 and had played in 294 games with the Wild and Flyers in his career. He is expected to provide speed and a physical element along with versatility at all forward positions. Powe has 227 blocked shots and 662 hits in five seasons in Minnesota and Philadelphia.

“Initially it was a little bit of a surprise but when I heard I was coming to the Rangers, it’s a great organization, a great team,” Powe said. “I try to make [shot-blocking] a part of my game. Anything I can do to help keep pucks out of our net. As a role player, that’s what you need to do.”

Miller was the 15th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He has recorded 20 points (eight goals and 12 assists) in 37 games. Miller was also a key contributor to the gold-medal winning U.S. World Junior Hockey Championship team, totaling nine points (two goals and seven assists) and a plus-five rating in seven games.

“I watched him during the lockout. I watched him in the World Juniors. I think his game has really grown. [He] had a really good tournament, [and] has become more consistent in Hartford,” head coach John Tortorella said of Miller. “It’s what we’ve seen of him and the reports we’ve gotten from [Connecticut Whale head coach] Kenny [Gernander] as we’ve gone through their season. Especially through the junior tournament and when he’s come back and played.

“We talked to him. When we give him just a little bit of our foundation of how we play; we try to take some pressure off of him. You need to get out of his way. Whoever plays tonight, if they’re kids, you need to get out of their way and let them play.”

Long a believer in having youth on a team, Tortorella wants to see what the new blood can do.

“I’m really interested in the youth. They’ve played half a year down [in Connecticut] or so. We’ve gotten good reports on them so we’ll see,” Tortorella said at the morning skate. “We don’t want to hurt the process with these kids — [Chris] Kreider included — and so we want to take a look. If things happen in a good way for them we’ll keep playing them. We’ll coach them. We certainly are always thinking of the process in the development and development in the right way, so they build a foundation the correct way.”

Palmieri, 23, was sent to Connecticut on Monday. The organization announced Tuesday afternoon that Mashinter had been sent down.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Simply put, it was a superlative penalty killing performance by the Devils on Super Bowl Sunday.

New Jersey’s 3-0 matinee win over the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum was marked by a perfect seven-for-seven effort against the NHL’s best power play.

“What killed us basically the last game [a 5-4 loss to the Islanders Thursday] was the power play,” Devils head coach Pete DeBoer said. “We tightened up defensively and the big difference was the penalty kill. I thought defensively, at home the other day, we were fine five-on-five and they ate us alive on the power play. So we fixed that.”

The Devils clogged the middle of the ice and challenged the Islanders’ shooters, who only managed five shots on seven power plays. By comparison, the Devils had three short-handed shots.

“We can’t get too frustrated. We had our opportunities on our power play,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said.  “[The Devils] came a little bit more aggressive I thought.”

Steve Bernier scored twice in a 50-second span of the third period to give the Devils a 2-0 lead. David Clarkson potted an empty-netter with 22 seconds left to salt away the Devils’ first win in five games (1-1-3). Johan Hedberg made 22 saves as he earned his 22nd career shutout.

“That’s depth. You need it. It’s a long season especially in the grind of the schedule that we’re in the middle of right now,” DeBoer said. “You need contributions from all kinds of different people.”

Bernier slammed a power-play rebound past Evgeni Nabokov at 16:06 of the third period for the game’s first goal. He added his second at 17:16.

“We [shot] the puck and go for the rebound. That’s exactly what happened,” Bernier said. “On the second, our line did a great job on the forecheck. We were able to keep the puck in. I was trying to put the puck in the right places in front of Nabby where I [would] be able to get the rebound and the puck went in. It’s great. Obviously great work by everybody on the ice.”

Nabokov was the best Islander on the ice Sunday afternoon as he made 24 saves.

“He played well. Kept us in, especially in the second period when they gained some momentum,” Capuano said. “[New Jersey] came at us pretty hard. Nabby gave us a chance to win the game.

“He made some good saves at key moments of the game. I thought he played exceptionally well.”

But Nabokov was the only Islander player to receive praise from the coach.

“There was no movement. There was no energy. They were winning all the puck battles. We weren’t moving our feet. We weren’t functioning properly,” Capuano said. “You’re not going to generate any offense if you don’t go to those hot areas and tonight I thought we were on the perimeter way too much.

“There’s a few adjustments we have to make [before Tuesday’s game against the Penguins]. I don’t know if it is personnel or lines but we have to realize that it’s not good enough. We were in a pretty good hockey game for 55 minutes. We just couldn’t close it out.”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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“It is the tightest hockey team I’ve coached,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said.
 
There wasn’t much in terms of offense for two of the NHL’s premier defensive-oriented clubs. The teams combined for 28 shots total, 15 for the Rangers and 13 for the Devils. The 13 shots against is a season low for the Rangers. The previous low was 17 allowed against Tampa Bay in a 4-3 win on Feb. 9.

“It was tight. The neutral zone was key for both teams,” Marian Gaborik said.
 
The game-winning goal came off the stick of Carl Hagelin at 16:59 of the first period. Martin Brodeur failed to clear the puck from the defensive zone and the Rangers were able to cycle and forecheck for one of the few times in the match. Hagelin slipped behind Mark Fayne at the top of the crease and snapped a quick one-timer over New Jersey’s Hall-of-Famer to be.

“I tried to get a shot off,” Hagelin said of his 11th goal of the season. He is tied with Artem Anisimov for fifth place on the team in goals scored. “I tried to get it up high.”
 
Hagelin assisted on Ryan Callahan’s empty-net goal at 18:54 in the third.

Brodeur finished with 14 saves while Henrik Lundqvist recorded his NHL-leading eighth shutout of the season.
 
If the first period was testament to the skill that the league wants to highlight, then the second was an ode to the historical hatred the franchises share. Players on both sides exchanged headlocks after whistles. Brandon Prust and Eric Boulton paired off in a long bout behind the Devils goal line at 16:52. David Clarkson and Mike Rupp were even assessed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at 17:00 for exchanging words in the faceoff circle before the puck was dropped.

“The whole game was a playoff feel,” Rupp said.
 
After his unsportsmanlike penalty expired, Clarkson fought Brandon Dubinsky with 33 seconds remaining in the period. Clarkson had been given a 10-minute misconduct at the 4:58 mark of the period following an on-ice conversation between he and Dubinsky that saw a linesman have to skate,  and then pin, the Devils right wing to the Seventh Avenue corner boards.     
 
“Dubinsky went after [Ilya Kovalchuk]. I went out and said something, went to line up, he slashes the stick and I got a 10 [minute misconduct],” Clarkson said.
 
To instigate the fight with Dubinsky, Clarkson leapt into the Rangers’ winger. Along with the five minute major for fighting, Clarkson was penalized for charging. Clarkson finished with 19 penalty minutes and 11:14 of ice time.
 
“I don’t know,” Clarkson said of the charging penalty. “I was going down the wall full speed. The puck wasn’t there and he kind of cut me off. That penalty, I don’t mind but the 10 [minute misconduct] kind of sucked.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The Rangers’ lone deal was to acquire John Scott from Chicago for a fifth-round pick. Sather envisions the 6-foot-8, 270-pound Scott as someone who can bring size to both the defense and forward corps.
 
“He gives us a little more depth at defense [and] he’s a huge guy upfront if we want to play him upfront,” Sather explained, along with noting the Rangers will play 17 games in March. It is a stretch that includes home games against the Bruins, Islanders and Devils, and a visit to the Rock.
 
“We got some games this month against some pretty rugged teams,” Sather said. “He’s a real good factor to stop any of that kind of fooling around that happens in this time of year.”
 
The acquisition is curious as the Rangers possess physical elements in Mike Rupp, Brandon Prust and Stu Bickel. The Rangers lead the NHL with 48 fighting majors. Prust’s 11 fights lead the team. Rupp is second with nine fights and Bickel’s seven bouts rank third.
 
“They’ve done all the heavy lifting this year” Sather said. “If a situation gets to where someone gets hurt, [we] have another asset.” Scott has had four fights this year according to HockeyFights.com.
 
Richards deja vu

Perhaps more than anyone in the dressing room, Brad Richards knew the uncertainty that had engulfed Brandon Dubinsky and Rick Nash.
 
Richards’s name had been bandied about at the trade deadline last year as he was a pending unrestricted free agent and the then-financially strapped Stars were not going to be able to re-sign the center.
 
“You can drive yourself nuts, if you want. It’s not as easy [to ignore trade rumors] now with all the social media,” Richards said. “You just try to hope everything will work out the best for you. It’s part of the job.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The time of year where executives earn praise or scorn is nigh. The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 27, and scouts are populating press boxes to evaluate players.
 
The Garden was not immune, as six scouts were in attendance for last night’s match against the Devils. The most interesting team listed was the Columbus Blue Jackets. Speculation persists that the Blue Jackets will trade center Jeff Carter and that left wing Rick Nash will ask to be traded.
 
Both are high-end offensive players that would benefit the Rangers’ power play, but both would come at a high cost. Nash is signed to a deal through the 2017-18 season, while Carter is in the first year of an 11-year, $58 million pact. The Rangers can afford to add $6.9 million in salary between now and the deadline.
 
As the league’s worst team, Columbus would presumably want a package of young players, prospects and draft picks in return for either Carter or Nash.
 
In for a haul
 
Throughout the 2011-12 campaign, the Rangers have parroted the one-game-at-a-time philosophy that Tortorella has espoused since he replaced Tom Renney at the end of the 2008-09 season.  
 
That mantra will be tested as the Rangers embark on a five-games-in-eight-days stretch on Thursday. The Rangers host Tampa Bay Thursday night for the first time since Artem Anisimov’s sniper goal celebration. Saturday, they will be in Philadelphia for a matinee against the Flyers. They host Washington Sunday, a match that will be carried by NBC. The stint concludes with a game in Boston on Tuesday and a home match against Chicago next Thursday.
 
The record of the Rangers’ next five opponents is a collective 142-93-24.
 
*
 
Another of Tortorella’s long-held beliefs is that the Rangers must generate offense from their defense.
 
In their  5-2 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, Anisimov and Brandon Prust forced third-period turnovers from Flyers defensemen Marc-Andre Bourdon and Matt Carle that directly led to Michael Del Zotto’s and Brandon Dubinsky’s goals.
 
“There are all different ways of creating offense from defense — coverage, a stick check at [the opposition’s] blue line,” Tortorella said before the game. “We’re going to defend first and get our offense off of it.” 

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Things got ugly when Artem Anisimov’s apparent game-tying goal with 3.5 seconds was waved off when Marian Gaborik barreled into Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. Gaborik was called for goaltender interference and fans threw garbage onto the ice. Garden public address announcer Joe Tolleson implored the crowd to not litter the ice with debris after a beer bottle landed by the logo at center.
 
As Tolleson pled for calm, Rangers coach John Tortorella was anything but as he demanded an explanation from referees Dan O’Rourke and Dean Morton.
 
“I’m not commenting,” Tortorella said when his post-game press conference opened with a question about the disallowed goal. “I’m not going to comment on it.”
 
Tortorella and Devils coach Peter DeBoer started their fourth lines in an effort to set the tone for the game. Not coincidentally, gloves dropped to the ice two seconds after the opening faceoff. Brandon Prust fought Eric Boulton while Mike Rupp squared off with Cam Janssen.
 
The bouts clearly energized the Devils as the Rangers were outshot, 9-0, and outscored, 1-0, in the first 11:53. David Clarkson’s power-play one-timer off of Zach Parise feed 8:14 into the match was the game-deciding goal. Clarkson used a Ranger to screen Henrik Lundqvist while Parise set up from behind the goal. The goal was Clarkson’s career-high 21st.

“[The Devils] were a little bit quicker. We got going and I thought we played pretty well after that,” Tortorella said. “They score one and we don’t. That’s the difference in the game.”
 
New Jersey effectively neutralized the Rangers by successfully implementing the system that has been the bedrock of Devils hockey for nearly two decades. The neutral zone was so clogged that studio apartments are more spacious than the ice in the offensive zone was last night.  
 
Brodeur did not have to work especially hard to increase his NHL record for wins (643) and shutouts (117). The Rangers’ best chances occurred in the second period when Prust just missed on a two-on-one with Brandon Dubinsky. Later, with an opportunity for a breakaway, the puck bounced on Marian Gaborik.
 
It was the final 20 in which Brodeur displayed his Hall of Fame form as the Rangers outshot New Jersey 15-1 in the third and finished the game with an 30-22 advantage in shots.
 
“I thought we played a great third period,” Ryan Callahan said. “We need to have a better start. That’s what hurt us the most.”
 
Without an effective line, Tortorella was relegated to line-juggling save for the trio of Gaborik, Anisimov and Derek Stepan. Dubinsky skated with Prust and Brian Boyle. The triumvirate of Rupp, Brad Richards and Ruslan Fedotenko was formed.  
 
The power play was ineffective last night as it has been throughout the season. The Rangers were scoreless on three opportunities with the man advantage. The Rangers are now three for their last 51 chances on the power play dating back to Dec. 23.

“It came down to special teams,” Lundqvist said. “They’re a pretty good team. They have a lot of skilled guys, especially on the power play. They move the puck really well.
 
“In the second half and playoffs, especially, we have to make sure our power play and our penalty kill is sharp.”

The Rangers are 1-1-1 against the Devils this season. The game was the
second matchup between the Hudson River rivals in eight days. There are
three games remaining.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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“Our best players were our best players tonight,” DeBoer said. “When Kovy goes down and scores every time [in the shootout], it’s a boost.”
 
Martin Brodeur stopped 23-of-26 shots for the Devils, who received regulation goals from Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and David Clarkson.
 
Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and Michael Del Zotto scored for the Rangers. Marty Biron made 26 saves.

“Liked our game,” Tortorella said. “We’ll take the point and go to Buffalo.”
 
The Rangers have split the first two games of the year against the Devils. The teams have four games remaining, three of which occur at the Garden.  
 
Stralman opened the scoring at 19:27 of the first period. The defenseman joined Marian Gaborik and Carl Hagelin on a rush and when a rebound of Gaborik’s off-wing shot ricocheted off of Brodeur’s pads onto his stick blade, Stralman had his second goal in 25 games with the Rangers.   
 
Stralman’s goal followed a strong forechecking shift by the trio of Mike Rupp, Artem Anisimov and John Mitchell in which the line was able to keep the puck in the New Jersey zone and generate offense. A spectacular sequence of saves by Brodeur was the only reason that the Rangers did not break through.
 
But the Rangers couldn’t grow their lead. A power play that Tortorella termed “robotic,” during the early skate was unsuccessful and man advantage units are 0-for-7 dating back to a 3-0 win over Winnipeg on Jan. 24.
 
Parise tied the game at 1-1 8:20 into the second period by lifting a rebound of his own shot over Biron’s glove.
 
Tortorella made the decision to start Biron when the team returned from the All-Star Break Monday. Tortorella’s rationale was that he wanted Henrik Lundqvist to have two days of practice before playing in a meaningful game. Last night’s game was the first Lundqvist did not start against the Devils since the 2005-06 season. He believes that he will play tonight in Buffalo.   
 
Boyle broke the tie 2:37 into the third when he lifted a shot over a sprawled Brodeur from just inside the left faceoff circle.
 
Up to that point, it was a tight-checking, defensive affair. However it became wild in the final five minutes of regulation.    
 
The Rangers’ lead lasted until the 4:35 mark when Kovalchuk lasered a power play bullet over Biron’s glove to tie the game at 2-2. Del Zotto gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead 36 seconds after Kovalchuk’s tying goal only to see Clarkson tie the game at 19:20.

“It was a fluky play where it hits [the] partition,” Clarkson said. “It felt pretty good. Wasn’t pretty, but I’ll take it.”

“Lucky bounce, [but] it doesn’t make it easier with 30 seconds left,” said Biron in an empty Rangers locker room.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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It’s not just on the ice where the Devils have struggled this season. The Devils are in the midst of an ownership sale and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Vice President Bill Daly admitted during the All-Star Weekend that the league is financially helping the franchise.
 
Devils’ player rep David Clarkson was asked if the state of the league’s financially weaker franchises could potentially be discussed when the NHL and NHLPA begin to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
 
“I think everything figures itself out, somehow,” Clarkson said. “The thing I know is that our locker room is the exact same as it was before. It doesn’t affect us as players. We just have to go out and continue to do our job.”
 
Break time is over
 
The Rangers and Devils have not agreed on much in the Atlantic Division rivals’ 29-year history. However both sides concurred that the second of the six games the teams would play would possess the requisite amounts of emotion and energy.  
 
“It’s good for us because after the break we want to establish [that] we don’t miss a beat,” Brandon Prust said. “Do it against a rival team gets the blood pumping right away.”
 
Prust, who noted the five days off allowed players to recuperate from nagging physical ailments along with the game’s mental stresses, acknowledged the grind that will be the Rangers’ final 34 games of the regular season.
 
“I think that’s kind of how the season works; it’s a new season within a season,” Prust said. “We’re getting close to playoff time here and that’s where you start separating yourself [from the middle-of-the-pack].”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
 

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The word that best describes the Devils forward units is thin. Yes, Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk are unquestionably stars, while Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias and David Clarkson are solid players.
 
Then, uncertainty.
 
Are Jacob Josefson, Adam Henrique and Nick Palmieri ready to play second- and third-line roles? Zajac will miss at least the first month as he recuperates from Achilles surgery. Who will fill in for him on the top line? Can Dainius Zubrus and Mattias Tedenby provide enough secondary offense?
 
The Devils 2.08 goals per game ranked last in the league, while their power play was 28th out of 30.
 
DEFENSE 

In the Devils’ two decades of dominance, defense was a position strength. It wasn’t last year and doesn’t appear to be one this year. Fourth-overall pick Adam Larsson impressed in training camp and in the exhibition season. The 18-year-old Larsson, who played for Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League last season, won admirers in Parise and Kovalchuk for his ability to run the power play.
 
After Larsson, there’s not a whole lot to be excited about.
 
Anton Volchenkov is one of the league’s better hitters and shot-blockers on the blueline, but his salary (five years and $21.25 million remaining) screams for a franchise defenseman instead of solid piece. Andy Greene and Henrik Tallinder are fifth and sixth defensemen on most teams.
 
GOALTENDING

A question mark. Martin Brodeur is 39 years old and Johan Hedberg is 38. Both showed their age during the preseason. Moreover, both are unrestricted free agents after this season. Is Jeff Frazee the long-term answer in goal? If not, is there a young, NHL-ready goaltender in the Devils system?
 
PREDICTION:  Last season was the first since 1995-96 that the Devils did not make the playoffs. It appears that the Devils will miss the playoffs this season because of the plethora of on-and-off-ice issues facing the organization. The 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons marked the last time the Devils did not qualify for the playoffs in consecutive years.    

Follow NHL writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for coverage of all three area teams.
 

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The Rangers and Richards agreed to a nine year, $60 million contract Saturday morning.  The pact, in which there is a no movement clause, calls for Richards to earn $57 million in the first six years and $1 million in each of the final three years while being an annual $6.67 million hit to the Rangers cap.
 
The Richards signing should improve the Rangers’ offensive production in the foreseeable future. The Rangers were a playoff team in 2010-11 due to its willingness to grind along the boards and forecheck. But the lack of skill was evident in the first round playoff series loss to Washington. The Rangers lost the series in five games and were outscored 13-8.  
 
“We have to add skill within our lineup. We need to look at all avenues. We’re building the right foundation. We had some really good growth and some surprises,” Head coach John Tortorella said on breakup day. “When you get into the real stuff of the playoffs and play a skillful team like Washington, you can see where we need some help in that area. We’ll have to look at all areas.”
 
During a Saturday afternoon conference call in which Rangers President Glen Sather and Richards also participated, Tortorella said that organizational decision makers determined that the Rangers’ biggest needs were “an elite center ice man” and “a guy to run the power play.
 
“We got that with Richie.”
 
The Rangers power play was mostly ineffective in the regular season as they connected on a 16.9 percent rate in the regular season. The ineffective power play in the regular season became impotent in the playoffs. The Rangers only scored once on 20 man-advantage chances against Washington.
 
Moreover, the Rangers finished 16th in the NHL with a 2.73 goals per game average in 2010-11. Richards has scored 716 points in his 772 career regular season game, an average of 1.078 points per game. He finished last season with 77 points in 72 games. He will center Marian Gaborik on the top line. Gaborik fell from 42 goals in 2009-10 to 22 last season. Tortorella moved the right wing throughout the lineup, trying to find the linemates that boost his production.
 
“I know Gabby is very excited that Brad is here,” Sather said. “It’s going to make him a much better player.”
 
Along with signing Gaborik, Sather signed former Pittsburgh center Mike Rupp to a three-year, $4.5 million contract, and brought back Ruslan Fedotenko. The Rangers are $15 million under the cap but have to agree to terms with restricted free agent forwards Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle, and RFA defenseman Michael Sauer. The organization could also re-sign UFA defenseman Steve Eminger to add depth.  

Rangers: Added the “elite center,” to quote John Tortorella, by agreeing to the nine-year, $60 million contract with Brad Richards. Added a respected veteran in Mike Rupp, who should fit nicely alongside Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. Organizational decision makers will be ecstatic if that line contribute 30 goals, 300 hits and kill penalties effectively.

Re-signing Ruslan Fedotenko means that one of the third line wing slots is filled, leaving an intriguing job battle between Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello, Dale Weise and Sean Avery. Tortorella often spoke glowingly about the organizational depth, especially at AHL Connecticut. At least two of the four players that lose the third line wing job will start 2011-12 with the Whale. Glen Sather has $15 to lock up his RFAs. Grade: A

Devils: Lou Lamiorello was limited to re-signing Andy Greene and Johan Hedberg due to the Devils’ cap situation. Greene is serviceable as a third or fourth defenseman. Hedberg should play 20-to-25 games next year in order for Martin Brodeur to be fresh down the stretch. The Devils hope Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson, whom they selected with the fourth overall pick in the draft, becomes the No.1 defenseman the franchise has lacked since Scott Stevens retired and Scott Niedermayer left Jersey for Anaheim. The one must-sign is Zach Parise. The wing and Devils went to arbitration before the start of free agency, with the popular thinking being the two sides agree to a one-year deal while working out a long-term extension during the 2011-12 campaign. Grade: Incomplete

Islanders: The Islanders were conservative in free agency, signing Marty Reasoner. He’ll help on ice by winning faceoffs and contributing offensive production from third line.  With the Islanders not all that far away from contending for a playoff spot, the organization desperately needs to make bold, decisive moves in the RFA market. Should Lightning center Steven Stamkos and/or Kings defenseman Drew Doughty not sign long-term pacts with their teams, the onus will be on the organization to present lucrative, multi-year offer sheets to one or both worth over $100 million. While their production make Stamkos and Doughty worth the offer sheet, the real benefit would be to the perception of the organization in the eyes of players, league executives and, with the New Nassau Coliseum referendum vote scheduled for August 1, in the eyes of voters. Grade: Incomplete

Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Brian Rolston fired home the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout in a 3-2 win over the Islanders yesterday. Blake Comeau’s tally forced the game into overtime with 3:42 left in the third, but the Devils still improved to 20-2-2 in their last 24 games.

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