Mon Oct 13 21:58:08 2008

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Voros scores twice as Rangers clip Devils on somber day

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New York, NY (Sports Network) - Aaron Voros notched a pair of goals and an assist, as the New York Rangers downed the New Jersey Devils, 4-1, at Madison Square Garden, continuing their undefeated and torrid start to the season despite playing with heavy hearts.

Earlier Monday, Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov died while playing for Avangard Omsk of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. Cherepanov, a 19-year-old who was taken 17th overall in the 2007 draft, collapsed on the bench in the third period and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

The tragedy put something of a damper on the fact that the Rangers, with the win, started the season 5-0 for the first time since the 1983-84 season, matching a franchise record.

Brandon Dubinsky scored and added a pair of helpers for New York, which went 7-0-1 versus New Jersey last season and started this campaign's series with a resounding win. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25-of-26 shots to record his fourth victory.

John Madden scored the lone goal for the Devils, who had won the first two games of the season. Martin Brodeur gave up three goals on 23 shots faced in the loss.

The Rangers had the only goal of the first period. Dubinsky fired a shot from the left point that glanced off Brodeur's glove and redirected into the goal at the 13:30 mark.

The first of Voros' two goals increased the New York lead in the second frame. Skating on the power play, Daniel Girardi took a shot from the right point and Voros, screening Brodeur in front of the crease, tipped the puck past the Devils goaltender at 6:37.

Madden's first goal of the season cut New Jersey's deficit in half with 1:48 to go in the middle frame, but shortly into the third period the Rangers got the goal back.

Again on the power play, New York cycled the puck from around the back of the net, up the right boards and to the left point for defenseman Paul Mara. His shot was tipped into the net just 1:39 into the stanza by Voros, who again provided a blindfold for Brodeur.

Ryan Callahan added an empty-net goal in the final minute to complete the scoring.

Game Notes

The Rangers have held opponents scoreless in 21 power play chances this season...Lundqvist improved to 13-2-4 against New Jersey...The Devils next play on Thursday against the Thrashers in Atlanta...The Rangers host Buffalo on Wednesday.