Devils get their first preseason win, 3-1 over Rangers | GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ – In front of a home crowd at the Prudential Center, the Devils got into the win column for the first time this preseason with a 3-0 victory over their rival, the New York Rangers. Brian Halonen, Nathan Légaré and Kevin Labanc each scored a goal in the win. Jeremy Brodeur, son of Devils Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur, stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced.

Brodeur was tested early, facing five shots in the first five minutes of the game, including a breakaway from Adam Sykora* that he stopped (*no relation to Petr Sykora).

The Devils were on the field after seven minutes. Brian Halonen scored on a breakaway against Jonathan Quick. Credit goes to Max Willman, whose stretch pass from the Devils' own zone helped get Halonen going. Ten minutes later, the Devils' second goal looked similar to the first. Nathan Légaré started a breakaway and beat Quick to score, increasing New Jersey's lead to two. As with the first goal, a stretch pass helped set up the score, this time Samuel Laberge found his linemate.

Another strong chance for the Devils came seven minutes into the middle frame. Filip Engaras intercepted the puck and kept it in the zone. Xavier Parent regained possession and saw Chase Stillman take the lead alone at the net. Parent quickly passed it to Stillman, who tried to redirect it, but Quick prevented the chance.

As the game progressed, the tension increased and the first scrum of the game broke out late in the middle frame. The Devils and Rangers played four-on-one after Parent and Casey Fitzgerald were sent off for brawling. As time ran out in the second period, Halonen and Adam Erne dropped the gloves. The fight brought Halonen one assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick.

Two minutes into the third period, the Devils extended their lead with a power play goal from Kevin Labanc. After the faceoff, Labanc passed to Hardman, who passed it back seconds later and Labanc's shot went past Quick. Labanc, one of three Devils players on a PTO in training camp tonight, was a key part of New Jersey's top power play unit tonight.

With 1:42 left in the third period and with the additional attacker, the Rangers got into the game with a goal from Anton Blidh. New York left its net empty until time expired, but New Jersey held on and secured the win, its first of the preseason. The win was also the Rangers' first loss this preseason, as New York entered the evening with a 3-0 record.