Martin Brodeur has probably had less painful shutouts than tonight's 1-0 win in New York.
With less than four seconds to go in regulation tonight at Madison Square Garden, the host Rangers appeared to have tied the game. But Artem Anisimov's goal off the rebound of a Ryan Callahan shot was disallowed when goaltender interference was whistled on Marian Gaborik.
Gaborik appeared to have put on the brakes in time, but was pushed into Brodeur by Anton Volchenkov just before the puck went in, and the goal was nullified. Brodeur was a little slow in getting up, but finished the final few seconds to pick up his 18th win this winter.
"It's frustrating, obviously," said Gaborik of the call in a post-game interview on MSG Network. "I tried to stop."
"It is a call they've made (in the past)," said Dave Maloney on MSG.
The Devils, who got 30 saves in all from Brodeur for his first shutout of the season, made a first-period power play goal by David Clarkson stand up for their fifth straight win overall, and second in seven days over the conference-leading Rangers. New Jersey also moved into fifth place in the East (albeit temporarily) with the victory.
It was old-time hockey at the start of the evening, as Cam Janssen squared off with Mike Rupp, and Eric Boulton fought Brandon Prust just two seconds after the first puck was dropped.
Clarkson tallied his 21st goal of the campaign merely 8:14 into the contest, less than a minute after Stu Bickel had been banished for holding Clarkson on a previous play. It turned out to be the only goal the Devils would need on the night.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 21 shots for the Rangers, including the only one the Devils took in the third period. He was on the bench for an extra attacker when Anisimov's potential tying marker was waved off.
"There was some contact, but I think their guy pushed him (Gaborik) in," said Lundqvist on MSG. "They're a pretty good team...It was fun to play. I thought we would tie it sooner or later, but it didn't happen."
Rangers head coach John Tortorella was absolutely livid at the call on the ice, but refused to comment on the play in his postgame talk.
"Brodeur was the difference," said Tortorella, who thought his own team got better as the game went on. "He made some pretty good saves."
Enough for his 117th career whitewash, even with a little officiating aid in the end.
Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood Francisco Cervelli Chad Moeller Jorge Posada Lance Berkman
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