National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
NY Rangers 4, New Jersey 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Ian Walsh, Kevin Pollock
Linesmen: Michel Cormier, Andy McElman
Attendance: 16592

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New York Rangers clinched the President's Trophy that goes to the team with the most points in the regular season, and they assured themselves of home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs by defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 Tuesday at the Prudential Center.

New York (52-21-7) also tied the franchise record for regular-season wins set in 1993-94, when the organization won its fourth Stanley Cup.

The Rangers, who have 111 points, received first-period goals from rookie right winger Kevin Hayes and defenseman Ryan McDonagh and third-period goals from center James Sheppard and left winger Carl Hagelin, the latter into an empty net.

The Devils (32-35-13) will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. They finished 19-14-8 at home.

Forwards Patrik Elias and Steve Bernier scored for the Devils.

Sheppard's tip-in, his seventh goal of the season, gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead at 10:41 of the third. Bernier cut it to 3-2 at 11:32, but Hagelin sealed it with his 17th goal at 18:12.

Goalie Cam Talbot stopped 19 shots for the Rangers. Devils goaltender Cory Schneider made 36 saves.

Hayes contributed to the first two goals, just 47 seconds apart in the first period. He scored his 16th goal of the season at 13:45, and he assisted on McDonagh's power-play goal at 14:32. Hayes has six points in his past five games.

The Devils killed off a five-on-three New York power play just 3:00 into the game. New York took just one shot on goal during the advantage.

Elias cut the New York lead to 2-1 on a power-play goal at 17:44 of the opening period. He received a pass from Bernier in front of the net for his 12th goal of the campaign and just his second in the past 19 games.

NOTES: Rangers G Cam Talbot won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award as voted upon by Rangers fans. McDonald is an NYPD detective who was shot in the line of duty and paralyzed in 1986. ... Since returning to the lineup from a vascular injury to his neck, Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist is 4-1-0 and has a 2.00 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in four straight wins. ... The Devils' 6-1 loss to the Rangers on April 4 was their worst loss to the Rangers since a 6-1 rout on Oct. 30, 1996. ... Devils co-coach and general manager Lou Lamoriello said there will be no individual awards for his team this season. He did not provide a reason why. ... Rangers RW Mats Zuccarello was scratched because of "overall soreness." ... New Jersey plays at Tampa Bay on Thursday and at Florida on Saturday. ... The Rangers play host to Ottawa on Thursday, then end the regular season Saturday at Washington.
Top Game Performances
 
NY Rangers   New Jersey
Kevin Hayes 3 Points Steve Bernier 2
Kevin Hayes 1 Goals Steve Bernier 1
Kevin Hayes 2 Assists Steve Bernier 1
Ryan McDonagh 1 Power Play Goals Patrik Elias 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Cameron Talbot .905 Save Percentage Cory Schneider .923
Cameron Talbot 19 Saves Cory Schneider 36
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
NY Rangers 40 4 1-7 1-2 4 26
New Jersey 21 2 1-2 6-7 14 33
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Devils have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .362 after a loss.
  • NY Rangers will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Rangers have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .621 after a loss.