The Remarkable Wrap: Improbable rally in 4-3 OT win

                          NEWARK ---In a season filled with third-period shortcomings and a 1-6 record in overtime, the Rangers staged their most dramatic comeback of the year tonight with a 4-3 shootout defeat of the Devils to gain a precious bit of ground in their last-ditch playoff chase.

                        Trailing 3-2, Chris Drury’s goal with 16.8 seconds left in regulation, beating Martin Brodeur at the post on backhand pass from Erik Christensen forced overtime.  “Chris won the faceoff, Michael (Del Zotto) at the point got it in deep and I just threw it in front. Didn’t have time to look,” said Christensen, who also scored the lone goal---which had to be reviewed after hitting two posts---in the three-round shootout.

                        “I was sure it was in,” said Christensen, who played 22:06 and set up several near-misses by teammates. “It hit one post, then the twine, then the other. I heard two dings.”  

                           The two dings led to two points, which brightened the Blueshirts’ confidence and slim playoff hopes, because the eighth-place Bruins lost, and the Rangers, with 75 points, crept to three points behind Boston with nine games to play. Seventh-place Philadelphia picked up a point and the Rangers are five behind the Flyers. The Rangers close the season with a home-and-home against Philadelphia .

                          Henrik Lundqvist, who made 35 saves overall and six in overtime, forced the shootout with a brilliant save on Ilya Kovalchuk from three feet away with 1:40 left in overtime. He stopped Zach Parise’s five-hole attempt, gloved Patrik Elias’ riser and secured the two points with a stop on Travis Zajac and the Rangers left for Saturday’s game in Toronto a happy bunch.

                          “Hank was outstanding,” said Del Zotto, who had two assists. “It’s a relief when he’s back there to bail you out. He makes you more confident.” 

                            Drury’s 12^th of the season, came just 10 seconds after coach John Tortorella had called a timeout for assistant coach Mike Sullivan to draw up a play, and sent the Rangers bench into a frenzy. Drury won the faceoff, and Del Zotto decided to throw the rolling puck low rather than set up Michal Rozsival for a shot.  “Heckuva play by DZ,” said Drury. “Every team works to set up the one-timer, but teams are so well coached it rarely happens. It was a heck of a play by Erik.”                        

                           The Rangers battled back to tie after trailing 1-0 and 2-1, but in the third period, just seconds after Lundqvist stopped Elias’s breakaway, Jamie Langenbrunner ripped a shot past the goaltender’s right arm at 12:37. That set the stage for the shocking comeback.

                           “Artie’s goal was big, too,” said Tortorella, referring to rookie center Artem Anisimov, who netted his second goal in two nights, when he grabbed Brandon Prust’s rebound and waited for an opening to beat Brodeur to pull the Rangers into a 2-2 deadlock at 9:40 of the third.

                           The Rangers were fortunate to survive a sloppy first period down 1-0. Brandon Dubinsky scored at 7:32 on a power play in the second and Elias restored the lead at 2-1 at 3:53 in the third.

                           But with Ryan Callahan out for the third period after re-injuring his left leg on a check, Marian Gaborik largely ineffective and Olli Jokinen benched for most of the period, Lundqvist, Anisimov, Drury and Christensen prevailed in a remarkable finish and their second straight win.

                           STAY TUNED.... A WIN AGAINST THE LEAFS COULD MAKE THIS VERY INTERESTING