New York Rangers top New Jersey Devils 4-2 after intense opening -NHL Update
Everyone knows when they are heading into a match between New York and New Jersey, there is always going to be fights and a lot of them.
Rangers and Devils turned the stadium into a wrestling arena instead of an ice rink as six players from both sides broke out into fights right after the opening face-off, getting the crowd pumped up for an intense 60-minute contest.
New York ultimately emerged victorious as the Rangers topped Devils, 4-2, Monday night, March 19, 2012, at the sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York.
Brandon Dubinsky scored the first of the night for his eighth of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season 1:11 into the opener, giving New York something to work on as the game progressed.
"Those guys are tough, the three of them are tough, too," said Dubinsky. "It was nice to score a goal, but by no means am I going to try to take credit away from those guys because it's a tough job to do that. They all stepped up to the plate and did a good
job for us."
Ryan Carter, Eric Boulton, Mike Rupp, Cam Janssen, Brandon Prust and Stu Bickel were all given five-minute major penalties for fighting in the opening three seconds.
With the win, New York also clinched the first Eastern Conference spot, certainly giving them something to celebrate about and continue working hard.
"I just want us to continue to play and continue to try to improve, and try to be playing our best hockey when we go into that last week," Rangers coach, John Tortorella, said. "These last couple of weeks are very important."
Dan Girardi extended the New York lead, followed by Patrik Elias for New Jersey’s first 5:03 into the second.
Mats Zuccarello grabbed his second of the year on the only Devils power play of the second while Petr Sykora capped it off, making it a one point game heading into the last.
Derek Stepan insured the game for New York with 1:10 remaining in the last allowing New York to take the match and a playoff spot.
New York will now be hosting Detroit Red Wings at home on Wednesday in a much anticipated contest while New Jersey Devils take off to Ottawa to face Senators on Tuesday.
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