Drury gives Rangers a boost in his return

If nothing else, Chris Drury's goal reminded everyone of his ability to rise to the occasion.

Rangers captain Drury, who injured his left knee Feb. 3 against the Devils, returned Saturday to give the Blueshirts a much-needed boost after they fell behind early in the first period.

On his first shift, Drury drove the net from the right boards and, while falling, slid the puck under Martin Brodeur's pads at 2:03 to tie it at 1. The goal came 1:11 after the Devils' Nick Palmieri opened the scoring with his ninth of the season.

"That was huge," said rookie defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who scored his first career goal, the game-winner in the second period. "When we needed him the most, he came through. Captain Clutch. Isn't that his nickname?"

Drury, 34, who had surgery Feb. 11, had been skating and practicing for five days and learned Friday night that he would be in the lineup. "If I played two shifts or 10 shifts, it didn't matter," he said. "I just wanted to be here for the win."

It has been an injury-filled season for the 13-year veteran, who has played in only 24 games. He broke his finger twice, in the home opener against Toronto and again Dec. 15. On Saturday, Drury, who has one more year on his contract, played only 7:48 but made it count, firing three shots and winning four of six faceoffs.

"He plays his best when the playoffs are on the line or in the playoffs," Vinny Prospal said. "[After the Devils' goal], we were done. You could see the building sink again. He comes back and scores at a crucial time. It was a huge lift."

Said coach John Tortorella: "I couldn't be prouder -- or happier -- for him."

First goal feels good

McDonagh, who has emerged as a key defenseman along with fellow rookie Michael Sauer, said he had been "thinking about his first goal for a long time, when it was going to come . . . It made it sweeter that we got the win." His high wrister from the left side beat Martin Brodeur at 11:59 of the second to provide a 3-2 lead, and he was named the first star of the game. He played 22:14, blocked two shots and was a plus-2 . . . Sean Avery and D Steve Eminger were scratched . . . Mats Zuccarello, who assisted on Drury's goal, played only 3:16 and Erik Christensen only 4:22.