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Defensive-minded teams clash when Devils host Rangers

Apr 9, 2008 - 12:33 PM Ny Rangers at New Jersey 7:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference quarterfinals

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) - Not a lot of goals are expected when the New York Rangers visit the New Jersey Devils in Game One of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The clubs were the two best defensive teams in the East this season and feature two of the top goaltenders in the conference with Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and three-time Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur playing for the Devils.

New Jersey lost the first seven meetings with New York during the regular season before winning 3-2 in overtime in the season finale to earn the fourth seed and home-ice in the series.

"Every time we played these guys, it's exactly the same," Devils left wing Patrik Elias said. "Almost all of the games were one-goal games. It's not going to be any different (in the playoffs)."

Brodeur posted a 2.17 goals-against average and had 44 wins, while Zach Parise led the Devils' offense with 32 goals and 65 points.

Jaromir Jagr and Chris Drury each scored 25 goals to lead the Rangers offense and Lundqvist posted a league-best 10 shutouts and had a 2.23 GAA in net.

The Rangers were swept in the 2005-06 quarterfinal round against the Devils, but made it to the conference semifinals last season.