NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Devils let a 2-0 lead slip away in the third period, but a late goal from Amadeus Lombardi forced overtime with the game tied at 3-3.
Extra time solved nothing before Will Cuylle scored the lone goal of the shootout to give the Rangers the victory.
The Devils opened the scoring on the power play near the midway point of the opening period. Seamus Casey's shot from the point was deflected in front by Stefan Noesen, taking a hop in front of Rangers goaltender Joonas Korpisalo before finding the back of the net.
For Noesen, simply being healthy and back in game action has been an important part of this year's camp after injuries limited him to 38 games last season.
"A healthy Noes is a good player," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He didn't have that much last season, but he's off to a good start here right now."
After one period, shots on goal were 5-4 for the Devils.
Things got heated early in the middle frame. Lombardi was leveled by Marc Del Gaizo in the neutral zone before Marc McLaughlin came to his teammate's defense and wrestled Del Gaizo to the ice. McLaughlin was assessed four minutes for roughing and Del Gaizo two, giving New York its first power play of the night.
The Devils doubled their lead with 7:51 remaining in the second. Ethan Edwards wired a one-timer from the left circle into the top corner to make it 2-0.
New Jersey also lost Casey during the period following an awkward collision. He did not return for the third.
"He's going to need to get evaluated," Keefe said. "He's going to miss some time, we just don't know the extent of it."
Shots on goal were even at 12-12 after two periods.
The Rangers got on the board 4:10 into the third. Gabe Perreault moved the puck to Matthew Robertson in the slot, where it took an unusual ricochet before bouncing in off Cuylle at the left post past Devils goaltender Nico Daws.
Perreault factored in again just over two minutes later. He sent the puck across the goalmouth to Glenn Gawdin, who fanned on his attempt, but the puck slid to the top of the crease where Anton Blidh tucked it under Daws to make it 2-2.
Midway through the third, the Rangers scored their third unanswered goal to take their first lead of the night. Scott Morrow came in off the rush and attempted a backhand pass across the slot, but the puck redirected off a Devils defender and into the net.
Keefe felt losing Casey had an impact as the Devils tried to protect their lead with five defensemen.
"I think the loss of Casey here tonight probably has an impact, a bigger impact on the game than you might think," Keefe said. "It probably affected us in the third period there."
Daws also put some of the responsibility for the Rangers' push on himself.
"Something that I need to get better at is finding a way to stop the bleeding," Daws said. "Teams are going to push, and we're going to get outplayed at times, and that's why I got to step up."
The Devils, however, had one more push of their own.
With Daws pulled for the extra attacker, Lombardi collected the puck high in the offensive zone and drove to the net before sliding it past Korpisalo to tie the game at 3-3 with 1:39 remaining.
"We were hemming them in for a while. We were getting recoveries on those loose pucks," Lombardi said. "I feel like we worked really hard as a line today ... so it was nice to get that one to tie it up for the team."
It was also a moment that stood out to Keefe, who had Lombardi playing his natural center position tonight.
"That was his best moment in the game," Keefe said. "Not just the scoring of the goal, but how you create that chance for yourself."
Shots were even at 20-20 after regulation.
Lombardi was called for slashing 50 seconds into overtime, giving the Rangers a four-on-three power play, but the Devils penalty killers held New York off the board.
Neither side could find the winner in overtime, sending the game to a shootout.
Cuylle was the lone player to convert, giving the Rangers the victory.
Despite the result, Daws came away feeling considerably more comfortable than he did in his first preseason appearance.
"I felt a lot more like myself," Daws said. "I found my pregame routine ... definitely felt a lot more like myself out there."
