Rangers defeat Devils in overtime

NEWARK, N.J. -- Mika Zibanejad scored 1:16 into in overtime to give the New York Rangers a 4-3 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday.
Rangers goalie Antti Raanta denied Kyle Palmieri on a breakaway 10 seconds before Zibanejad ended it on a snap shot from the right circle that beat Cory Schneider between the pads. It was the first game-winning goal of the season for Zibanejad, who missed 25 games with a leg injury this season.
"I'm just trying to take it a game at a time right now," said Zibanejad, who hadn't scored since Jan. 17 (15 games). "I don't want to look ahead too much. I just want to focus on the team winning, and me being able to get back to where I want to be."

Chris Kreider, Oscar Lindberg and Adam Clendening scored, and Raanta made 35 saves for the Rangers (40-19-2), who lead the NHL with 21 road wins. New York is 9-1-1 in its past 11 games.
WATCH: All Rangers vs. Devils highlights
Palmieri scored twice, Adam Henrique scored, and Cory Schneider made 36 saves for the Devils (25-25-11).
"I am not sure if [Raanta] just got my stick with his skate or he made the save and I got the shot off," Palmieri said of his overtime attempt. "It happened pretty fast. I didn't get a chance to watch it."

Raanta, who was making his first start since a 3-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 13, said the puck did hit his right skate.
Clendening scored on a slap shot from the right point with 4:25 left in the third period to tie it 3-3.
"I made eye contact [with Kreider] as he came around the net," Clendening said. "At the end of the day, it's on his stick. I was an option, but as I saw it coming and knew their guy wasn't going to get his stick on it, I just had to get it by him. I think [Mats Zuccarello] was in front of the net so [Schneider] didn't see it very well."
Palmieri scored two goals in 37 seconds early in the third period to give the Devils a 3-2 lead. His first was at 27 seconds, a snap shot from the top of the left circle that deflected off Raanta's glove and between his pads, and the second was a power-play redirection of a shot from the point by Andy Greene at 1:14.

"Give the Devils credit, especially the [Travis] Zajac line in the first (with Taylor Hall and Palmieri)," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "I thought both teams competed and executed and it was an entertaining game. It was a good hockey game and we found a way to win it."
Kreider made it 1-0 on a deflection 6:40 into the first period. Lindberg scored from the left circle off a fake shot and pass by Jesper Fast at 17:32 to make it 2-0.
Henrique scored to pull the Devils within 2-1 when he beat Raanta between the pads on a wraparound with 1:32 remaining in the second period.

#

Goal of the game

On Clendening's game-tying goal, Kreider was able to screen the puck from Devils defenseman Ben Lovejoy before skating behind the net and passing to Clendening at the point. Clendening was in the lineup because Kevin Klein (back spasms) was scratched.

#

Save of the game

Raanta stopped Palmieri 1:06 into overtime.
"[He] tracked the puck in front of me, so I just tried to put everything what I had in my leg and made a split there, and it hit the skate and the puck went behind the net," Raanta said.

#

Highlight of the game

Lindberg scored his fourth goal of the season off a pass from Fast late in the first period.

#

Unsung performance of the game

Zuccarello had one assist, was plus-3, and led the Rangers with six shots on goal. He also denied Henrique with six minutes left in the second when he lifted his stick during a shorthanded break with Zajac.

They said it

"It wasn't going that well for us to start the third and we had to do something. I've watched these guys a lot throughout the year, and to help them out when I'm in the lineup is great. It's definitely nice to get one on the board." -- Rangers defenseman Adam Clendening
"I have to make that save in overtime and give my guys another chance. A lot of good things tonight, a fun game to play in, but obviously the way we lost put a sour taste in my mouth and our team's as well." -- Devils goaltender Cory Schneider

#

Need to know

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will play against the Blue Jackets on Sunday. ... Palmieri scored two goals in a game for the second time this season (Jan. 31 in a 4-3 win at the Detroit Red Wings).

#

What's next

Rangers: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Devils: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, SNE, RDS, NHL.TV)