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Lundqvist has strong showing as Rangers blank Devils

Sep 21, 2006 - 1:44 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Henrik Lundqvist was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as a rookie last season. He demonstrated why in his first preseason contest.

Lundqvist made 22 saves and Greg Moore recorded a pair of assists as the New York Rangers posted a 2-0 triumph over the New Jersey Devils.

A seventh-round pick in 2000, Lundqvist went 30-12-9 with a .922 save percentage and 2.24 goals-against average in 2005-06, helping the Rangers end a seven-season playoff drought. The 24-year-old Swede got off to a good start in his sophomore campaign, turning aside one shot in the first period, 14 in the second and seven in the third for the shutout.

Signed as a free agent this summer after winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes last season, Matt Cullen gave Lundqvist all the support he needed with 4:39 to go in the first period, taking a feed from Moore and beating goaltender Scott Clemmensen for his first goal of the preseason.

Petr Prucha, who had 30 tallies as a rookie in 2005-06, doubled the advantage 80 seconds into the middle session, also converting a pass from Moore.

Defenseman Marek Malik registered an assist for the Rangers, who skated to a 3-1 road victory over the Devils on Tuesday.

Clemmensen allowed two goals on 29 shots for New Jersey before being replaced by Frank Doyle, who made 20 saves.

Jaromir Jagr did not dress for New York, while two-time Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta sat out for New Jersey.