NHL

Devils defeat Rangers in shootout

WINNER: Ilya Kovalchuk scores on Rangers goaltender Martin Biron during the shootout in last night’s game at Newark. The Devils won, 4-3. (Jeff Zelavansky)

The Rangers had their way for four years. Long enough, the Devils say.

Notwithstanding that the Devils didn’t have to deal with Henrik Lundqvist, the Jersey Boys grasped gratefully at the chance to start reversing the flow of the Battle of the Hudson with last night’s remarkable and stunning 4-3 shootout victory over the Rangers at the Prudential Center.

“Of late, it’s been tough. We had our share of being successful against these guys, but not lately,” Martin Brodeur said. “You always remember what’s gone on yesterday.

“It was not good against the Rangers. It’s nice for [Devils fans] to be able to enjoy this win.

The Rangers owned an 18-7-2 record against the Devils since the start of 2007-08. The rivalry is in need of rebuilding.

“Sometimes those games spark you, especially against a team like that,” said David Clarkson, who forced overtime with 47.6 seconds left and Brodeur on the bench for an extra skater. Clarkson was on the spot when Andy Greene’s long dump took a wild carom off the end glass to fall on his stick in the right slot.

The Rangers, who visit Buffalo tonight, tried to console themselves with the charity point despite squandering a clean triumph.

“Even though it hurts to lose on a bounce, I thought we came away with a good point,” Ryan Callahan said. “It stings a bit to lose a point like that. But we’re happy to get the point, and I thought we played a good game.”

In the end, the Rangers lost to the Devils’ best biggest 1-2 punch, the shootout tandem of Ilya Kovalchuk and Brodeur.

“Kovy’s been automatic,” Zach Parise said after Kovalchuk improved to 8-of-9 in shootouts this season. Brodeur has stopped 11-of-13 tries against him in the shootout, and all three last night, including the finale of All-Star Game MVP Marian Gaborik.

“We were rewarded,” Brodeur said. “We’ve been on the other side on these bad bounces. For once it was on our side.”

The Rangers never trailed during play. Devils coach Pete DeBoer put his suspect fourth line out in the period’s final minute and suffered the consequences. Gaborik raced up right wing, and his shot went off Anton Volchenkov’s stick. The change of direction forced Brodeur into an awkward save, and Kurtis Foster and Brad Mills watched as Anton Stralman was first to the rebound and open net at 19:27.

Parise tied the game with his 16th at 8:20 of the second, pouncing on his own rebound deep on left wing to hit the roof of the net short side on Martin Biron.

The Rangers took the lead again at 2:37 of the third when Stu Bickel’s point shot hit Brian Boyle and followed Boyle to the left flat, where he put his fourth over Brodeur.

Kovalchuk seemed to force overtime with his 20th, a power play goal off Patrik Elias’ sharp pass to the slot. But the Rangers answered 36 seconds later to reclaim the lead. Rookie defenseman Adam Larsson was caught as Gaborik rushed left wing tand threaded a backhand pass through two Devils to Micahel Del Zotto, alone in the right circle to find net against the grain, under Brodeur’s waffle.

But then came Clarkson and his carom, and Kovalchuk and Brodeur. The rivalry lives again.

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Devils listed Travis Zajac as out another two weeks, but genuine concern exists in some quarters that the he might not be back in uniform this season.

Zajac aggravated his surgically repaired Achilles tendon badly enough in eight games Dec. 18-Jan. 2 to return to the sidelines, and there is some relief being expressed that he didn’t re-rupture the vital tendon, such is the extent of his re-injury.

Zajac’s potential absence could prompt Lou Lamoriello to land another center before the Feb. 27 trade deadline. One scenario is that Zajac would use the rest of the season to fully heal the tendon, surgically repaired Aug. 18 after he injured it in training exercises. He then could use the summer to train and get his leg into game shape.

Zajac, however, is a team-first guy and might try to push himself into action down the stretch in case the Devils make the playoffs. Stops and starts may have been an issue with his re-injury and using Zajac on penalty-killing may not have helped.

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Islanders announced that they will play an exhibition Oct. 2 against the Devils in the new Brooklyn arena, the first NHL game at the yet-unfinished venue that will be the Nets’ home. … Devils play host to Montreal tomorrow to complete six-game homestand, visit the Flyers Saturday afternoon and play host to Penguins Sunday afternoon.