Defense Helps Devils Tie Rangers

The New Jersey Devils, getting another big effort from their defense and goaltender Martin Brodeur, continued their drive for a playoff berth with a 2-2 tie against the New York Rangers Monday night.

The Devils held the Rangers to 25 shots--33 less than the Rangers had against Buffalo in a 3-3 tie Friday night.

The Devils, who won the Stanley Cup with a similar defense-first style, made the Rangers play their game all the way through, and Brodeur was solid in making 23 saves.

Glenn Healy gave the Rangers another good effort in goal, making 32 saves.

The Rangers had Mark Messier back after he sat out two games because of a shoulder injury, but couldn’t generate many scoring chances as the Devils played their neutral-zone trap to perfection.

It was the same style the Devils used to sweep four games from the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup last season. The Devils brought a four-game winning streak into Madison Square Garden, and their point against the Rangers gave them a five-point lead over Boston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.