Carrick scores first goal for Devils in win against Rangers

NEWARK, N.J. -- Connor Carrick broke a tie late in the third period with his first goal for the New Jersey Devils in a 4-2 win against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on Monday.

Carrick, a defenseman acquired in a trade with the Dallas Stars for Ben Lovejoy on Feb. 23, scored off a snap shot after taking a pass from Drew Stafford for a 3-2 lead at 15:50 of the third period. The Devils defeated the Rangers for the first time in four tries (1-3-0) this season.
"I gave him a good yell and Drew's a veteran player with great poise," Carrick said. "He settled the puck and was able to put it right on my tape. I just tried to go across the grain with the shot based on where Henrik Lundqvist] was coming from."
***[WATCH: [All Rangers vs. Devils highlights]*
Joey Anderson scored into an empty net at 18:51 for the 4-2 final.
Carrick and Travis Zajac each had a goal and an assist, Miles Wood scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 30 saves for the Devils (30-40-10) in their final home game of the season.
"It was an intense game for sure, but that's why you play the game," Blackwood said. "We wanted to end here on a good note and finish our last home game on the right foot."

Brett Howden and Filip Chytil scored for the Rangers (31-35-13). Lundqvist made 37 saves, failing in his fifth straight start to win his 450th NHL game. The Rangers have three games remaining.
"I don't know if I'll play again; I can't win a game," Lundqvist said. "If I get a start I'll try to make the most of it. You always find a reason to come to the rink and work as hard as you can. We've got to try to do that."
Chytil scored on a power play off a rebound at the right post for a 2-2 tie 16:36 into the second period. It was his first goal in 23 games.
The Rangers pulled to within 2-1 when Howden scored from the right circle off a 3-on-1 at 18:40 of the first period.
"There were a lot of good things tonight but, unfortunately, I thought we ran out of gas in the third period," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "Give them a lot of credit. I thought they played with a lot of energy all night long. [Lundqvist] gave us a chance in the third to find our way and take advantage of an opportunity, but it just wasn't to be."

The Rangers thought they scored 16 seconds later when Chris Kreider deflected a shot that hit the right post and appeared to cross the goal line. A video review confirmed that Devils defenseman Damon Severson swept the puck out of the crease in time.
"I knew it got behind me because I saw it in slow motion going past my hand and I was like, 'Oh, no', but luckily it hit the post and [Severson] was there to save the day for me so I owe him one," Blackwood said.
Wood gave the Devils a 1-0 lead when he skated into the right face-off circle and beat Lundqvist with his 10th goal of the season off a snap shot at 3:54 of the first period. Zajac made it 2-0 with a power-play goal off a tip-in from the slot at 14:34.

They said it

"It was great to see both teams play hard. It doesn't matter if (you're) in or out of the playoffs. You want to make the most of it going down the stretch and a lot of guys are playing in their first season. It doesn't matter if it's the first season or 14th season. You always find something that makes you go and want to win every game. You find reasons to come here and prepare and play as hard as you can." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist
"[Carrick] has come in and played very well. He has strong poise and has an edge to his game, which is something we feel we still need more of on our team. You need guys with a little bit of hardness to their game and he brings that. I think he's fit in culturally off the ice. He's a high-character guy who loves the game, works hard and is a great teammate who brings positive energy. He's been a nice addition for us and it's nice to see him take advantage of an opportunity." -- Devils coach John Hynes

Need to know

Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich (concussion protocol) was a late scratch after leaving 3:41 into the third period after colliding with Flyers forward Nolan Patrick during a 3-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. ... Howden has five points (one goal, four assists) in a four-game point streak. ... Zajac was 17-for-21 (81 percent) on face-offs.

What's next

Rangers: Host the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Devils: At the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, FS-CR, MSG, NHL.TV)