Zajac, Palmieri lead Devils to 6-4 win over rival Rangers

Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri each scored twice and the New Jersey Devils used a big second period to beat the New York Rangers 6-4 Saturday night.

Fredrik Claesson and John Hayden also scored, and Damon Severson and Dakota Merkis each had two assists to help the Devils improve to 6-1-2 in their last nine games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 31 shots to improve to 8-1-2 in his last 11.

Mika Zibanejad, Tony DeAngelo, Filip Chytil, and Greg McKegg each scored for the Rangers, who fell three points out of the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) makes a save against New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

Igor Shesterkin allowed five goals on 23 shots over two periods in his first game since sustaining a rib fracture in a car accident on Feb. 23. Henrik Lundvist replaced him to start the third and stopped all five shots he faced.

The Devils trailed 2-1 after one period before scoring four times in the second to take control.

Palmieri got his second of the night and 25th of the season just 44 seconds into the middle period to tie the score.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Connor Carrick (5) checks New York Rangers center Brett Howden (21) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

Claesson, who played 37 games for the Rangers last season, gave the Devils the lead for good just 52 seconds later. It was his first goal in five games this season.

Zajac pushed New Jersey's lead to 4-2 on its first power play of the night with less than four minutes remaining in the second.

Hayden made it 5-2 just 25 seconds later, snapping a 14-game point drought.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30) makes a save against New Jersey Devils center Kevin Rooney (16) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

The Rangers cut their deficit to 5-3 with 6:18 left in the third on McKegg's fifth of the season.

Zajac scored his second goal of the game on an empty net in the final minute, moving past Zach Parise for fourth place on the franchise list with 195 goals.

DeAngelo pulled the Rangers to 6-4 just 13 seconds later, but that was as close as the Rangers got.

New Jersey Devils center Kevin Rooney (16) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) fights for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

The first period was punctuated by three goals in less than two minutes. Chytil opened the scoring for the Rangers 5:34 into the game, converting from the slot after receiving Julien Gauthier's pass from behind the net. The goal ended a seven-game point drought for Chytil.

The Devils tied it 1-1 only 48 seconds later, as Palmieri beat Shesterkin from a tight angle. But New York regained the lead just 56 seconds after that. One game after a historic five-goal performance against the Capitals, Zibanejad found the back of the net once again. The 26-year-old has 21 goals in his last 20 games.

The Devils came close to tying the game in the first period, with Kevin Rooney failing to score on a breakaway.

New York Rangers center Brett Howden (21) moves the puck around New Jersey Devils defenseman Fredrik Claesson (33) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

This was the final meeting of the season between the Devils and the Rangers, with each team earning two wins.

NOTES: The Rangers moved F Kaapo Kakko down to the fourth line, switching him with Gauthier. ... New York scratched injured F Chris Kreider and G Alexandar Georgiev. ... The Devils scratched injured D Will Butcher and F Janne Kuokkanen, who was recalled from Binghamton (AHL) before the game.

UP NEXT:

New Jersey Devils fans and New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin reacts after New Jersey Devils center John Hayden scored a goal past him during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

Devils: Host Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Rangers: At Dallas on Tuesday night to open a three-game trip.

More AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL and https://www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) skates against New Jersey Devils right wing Joey Anderson (14) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

New York Rangers center Ryan Strome (16) skates against New Jersey Devils center Michael McLeod (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)

New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) skates against New Jersey Devils defenseman Dakota Mermis (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP PhotoMary Altaffer)