Perhaps the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils were in a rush to get the regular season started. Because they sure played a quick-moving preseason game Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, one that the Rangers lost 3-1 despite surrendering only 12 shots on goal.
The Devils (3-2-1) scored twice on six shots in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Ondrej Palat scored a power-play goal at 2:44 to make it 2-1. And Dawson Mercer scored into an empty net on a shot from beyond center ice with 1:23 remaining in regulation to finish the Rangers off.