There was Devils forward David Clarkson, who had left his feet along the boards to take a shot at Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky’s head in the final half-minute of the second period following previous nonsensical displays, gesticulating and running his mouth well after their ensuing fight had ended.
And there, in a sight as unusual as seeing the Rangers on top of the NHL in points-per-game at the trade deadline, there was Henrik Lundqvist circling out of his crease to inject a few words of his own toward Clarkson while waving his glove in disgust at the winger as he made his way off the ice.
“I mean, enough already,” The King told The Post after blanking the Devils 2-0 to record his fourth shutout in his past 12 starts, his eighth of the season, and his 43d beginning with the 2005-06 season, thus breaking a tie with Martin Brodeur for the most in the NHL since the lockout.
“It was just . . . I don’t know . . . it wasn’t about hockey. He just went on and on. Clarkson can be a good player. I just don’t know what that was for.”
Brendan Shanahan, NHL VP of Department Player Safety, will no doubt review the play, but it is impossible to predict whether Clarkson will be suspended for the blow to the head. Alexander Ovechkin, a repeat offender, was suspended for three games for launching himself at Pittsburgh defenseman Zbynek Michalek’s head on Jan. 22.
Dubinsky said he neither had seen nor had any interest in seeing the hit on video replay for which Clarkson was assessed a minor for charging before the fight.
“The game started to get a little chippy and it was just a matter of time before somebody fought him,” Dubinsky said. “He always seems to be turning away from tougher guys, he likes to say no and go after other guys.
“That’s just the way he is.”
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Dubinsky remained a Blueshirt, having avoided turning into a pumpkin (or a Blue Jacket) when the clock struck 3 at yesterday’s trade deadline.
The winger, who would have been part of the package going to Columbus in exchange for Rick Nash had talks between the clubs reached fruition, has gone 11 games without a goal while scoring just once in the last 21 games.
“I’ve got a 22-game season in front of me,” Dubinsky, who has scored six goals all season after getting 24 last year and 20 the year before that, said following the morning skate. “It’s an opportunity for me to step up. Our team is in first place and [with] me not having the season I wanted that says a lot for our team.
“If I get my game consistent and to where I want it to be, we can become more dangerous,” said No. 17, who has settled in on a checking line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. “I’m going into the playoffs with a chip on my shoulder.
“I know what I can do.”
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Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last 12 starts (four shutouts, a one-goal-against game and seven two goals-against games) with a 1.24 GAA and .952 save percentage over that span.
The King became the fourth goaltender in NHL history to record 30 or more victories in each of his first seven seasons, joining Brodeur (15 straight), Patrick Roy (8) and Tony Esposito (7) in that winners’ circle, though shootouts did not exist for the first three to accomplish the feat.
The Devils’ 13 shots amounted to the fewest the Rangers had limited an opponent since holding the Flames to 11 in a 6-3 (!) victory at the Garden on Jan. 19, 1981, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Rangers outhit Devils 37-24 with Boyle and Ryan Callahan each collecting six while Mike Rupp added five in 7:40.
Stu Bickel played 14:41, representing his NHL career high. The 30-game veteran got four shifts for 3:36 with the Rangers protecting a 1-0 lead until Callahan’s empty-netter sealed it at 18:54.
Acquisition of John Scott from Blackhawks left Rangers with a roster featuring 12 forwards and nine defensemen, though the blue-liner can play up front if needed. Clubs may recall four players from their respective AHL affiliates the remainder of the way and may directly add players out of college once signed. There is no roster limit for the rest of the year.
Scott is the first player to be imported to the Rangers from outside the organization since Jeff Woywitka was claimed off waivers from Montreal the day before the season began.
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The Rangers lead the Atlantic Division by nine points over the Flyers, with each team having 21 games remaining, while also leading the Penguins by nine points with one game in hand on Pittsburgh.
The Rangers lead the East by nine points over the Bruins, with Boston holding one game in hand.
Boston is at the Garden Sunday afternoon following Rangers’ two-game trip on which they will be in Carolina on Thursday and Tampa Bay on Friday.