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Ilya Kovalchuk scores in return, but Devils fall to Rangers 3-1

Ilya Kovalchuk

New Jersey Devils star forward Ilya Kovalchuk, of Russia, listens to a reporters question during a news conference in Newark, N.J., Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Kovalchuk is staying with the Devils after agreeing to a staggering 17-year, $102 million deal with the team. (AP Photo/ Mel Evans)

AP

NY Rangers 3, New Jersey 1

It was pretty hard to blame the Devils’ woes on Ilya Kovalchuk after the team was bludgeoned 6-1 by the Buffalo Sabres in his absence. You cannot really point to him for this loss, either, as Kovalchuk was the only New Jersey player to pierce Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in the Devils’ fourth loss in five games.

Many will focus on the Devils’ struggles - after all, last season’s Atlantic Division winners are now 2-6-1 in nine troubling games - but let’s not ignore the Rangers’ hard work. The Blueshirts are on a three-game winning streak and won each contest by one goal, despite being without crucial offensive weapons such as Marian Gaborik. One might even say that the Rangers are doing their best impression of the Devils in the last few contests.

Michal Rozsival and Ryan Callahan scored while Brandon Dubinsky added an empty-netter for the Rangers, who put 33 shots on Martin Brodeur.

Kovalchuk, Travis Zajac and Zach Parise combined for 15 of the Devils’ 28 shots tonight, indicating that the team’s top scorers are getting a little frustrated ... but are certainly giving it the old college try. The Devils dominated the third period (out-shooting the Rangers 12-5) but could only get one puck past Henrik Lundqvist in the game and that frame.

A lot of blame will go to rookie coach John MacLean - and with good reason - but the Devils might want to ponder changing their captain as well. Jamie Langenbrunner is a solid two-player who can bring a lot of intangibles to the table, but he’s a -6 so far this season and took three penalties in this one. Perhaps Langenbrunner remains sour after an ugly 2009-10 season that included a healthy scratch and some serious issues with former coach Jacques Lemaire? Either way, he hasn’t been playing well and his contract expires after this season. He might be an interesting guy to watch in trade rumors going forward.

The Rangers find themselves in the middle of the Atlantic Division race now, with nine points in seven games played, keeping them on pace with the Pittsburgh Penguins (11 points in 9 GP) and New York Islanders (10 points in 8 GP).

Meanwhile, the Devils are among the worst teams in the NHL so far. They’ve earned only five points in nine games played which ties them with Ottawa (but the Senators played eight) and places them one point ahead of Florida (but the Panthers only appeared in six games at this point).

Neither team should get too high or too low, but you can bet the Rangers relished pouring a little salt in the wounds of their regional rivals.