Rangers Win, Get Even With Devils

The New York Rangers turned nasty and tied their playoff series with the New Jersey Devils.

Goalie Mike Richter made 32 saves to become the Rangers’ shutout leader in the playoffs, and Brian Leetch ended Martin Brodeur’s mastery with a first-period power-play goal to lead the Rangers to a 2-0 victory in Game 2 at East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday.

The Rangers evened the Eastern Conference semifinal, 1-1, following a 2-0 loss in the opening game.

Richter made a save without his catching glove, stick and blocking pad, stopping John MacLean’s shot with his hand after the Devil right wing broke free from the right circle. Adam Graves cleared the loose puck, and Russ Courtnal scored an empty-net goal with 45 seconds to play.

The Rangers, among the worst penalty-killing teams during the regular season, prevented the Devils from scoring during seven power plays.

“We have to feel a sense of accomplishment. It would have been very difficult to come back from 2-0 against this team,” Richter said after recording a team-record eighth shutout in the playoffs.

After being outshot, 15-0, in the opening 15 minutes, the Rangers counted on Richter to keep the game scoreless. The momentum switched to the Rangers late in the first period when Mark Messier cross-checked Devil center Doug Gilmour to the face near the New Jersey bench.

No penalty was called. The Rangers converted their power play seconds later, after Bill Guerin was called for charging.

“There are no messages being sent here,” Messier said. “It’s just a matter of execution because both teams are so familiar with each other.”

The Devils had killed 20 consecutive power plays.

Colorado 4, Edmonton 1--Valeri Kamensky and Claude Lemieux scored second-period goals and Patrick Roy made 42 saves as the Avalanche won at Denver to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Kamensky’s sixth playoff goal and Lemieux’s seventh--tops in the postseason--broke a 1-1 tie.

Roy, who stopped the Oilers three times on breakaways, extended his NHL record for playoff victories by a goalie to 92.

“We had 43 shots on net and a bunch of really good ones,” Edmonton Coach Ron Low said. “We put some great shots on him, and he made some great saves. That’s the way Patrick Roy is. We have to get over that.”

Colorado has outscored the opposition, 12-1, in the first period of its five home playoff games.

Joe Sakic assisted on Scott Young’s goal, giving him at least one point in all eight Colorado playoff games.