Bill Kostroun / AP

New York Rangers' Sean Avery celebrates with Christian Backman, right, and Fredrik Sjostrom, left, after Avery scored against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

Shanahan staked New York to a 1-0 lead early in the second period.

Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves, including point-blank stops against Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner.

Paul Martin scored a power-play goal and Brodeur stopped 24 shots for the Devils, who’ll host Game 2 of the best-of-seven series Friday. The Rangers had lost 11 of 12 series openers, dating to the 1994 conference finals against New Jersey.

After surviving a scoreless first period in which they were as erratic with their puck-handling as their passing, the Rangers grabbed a 1-0 lead 1:45 into the second.

Avery, who forced two of New Jersey’s first three penalties, split two Devils defenders at the blue line and passed the puck to Shanahan above the right circle. With Gomez crossing in front of Brodeur, Shanahan scored his 59th career playoff goal.

New Jersey used its second man-advantage to get even. With Gomez off for hooking, Martin scored his first NHL playoff goal in his 26th game.

The Devils pressured the Rangers throughout the power play and worked to take advantage of forward Martin Straka, who tried to defend without a stick. Elias got to a loose puck and sent it to Martin in the right circle for a shot that beat Lundqvist at 14:14.

The defenseman scored five goals in the regular season, but had none since tallying two against Carolina on Feb. 9.

Although the opening 20 minutes failed to produce a goal, there was plenty of action and a few near-misses to excite the crowd dominated by Devils red with a healthy amount of Rangers blue.

Alternating cheers and chants supporting and disparaging the cross-river rivals filled the Prudential Center as the less-than-year-old building hosted its first playoff game.

New York outscored the Devils 17-9 during the regular season. Three of the eight meetings were decided by two goals, and the Rangers won three after regulation — including two in shootouts.

Notes: Shanahan is fourth among active players in postseason goals. ... Devils D Bryce Salvador returned to the lineup after missing 10 games due to a sore foot. ... New York D Paul Mara and LW Ryan Hollweg rejoined the Rangers’ lineup after sitting out the regular-season finale.

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Heading to the Cup finals

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front early in OT and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since '03. The new Eastern champs will face LA next.

NBC Sports

Highlights: OT goal delivers Devils to Cup finals

  Check out highlights as the New Jersey Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals by defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime.

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