NEW YORK -- Dane Byers and Ryan Callahan scored first-period power-play goals Friday to spark the New York Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Blair Betts and Martin Straka also scored as the Rangers kicked off their preseason schedule. Al Montoya, bidding to win the backup goaltender job behind Henrik Lundqvist, got the start and played well. He stopped 12 of 13 shots in a period and a half of action. Steve Valiquette finished up.
Dainius Zubrus, Zach Parise and Brian Gionta scored for the Devils who fell to 1-2 in preseason and may have lost backup goaltender Kevin Weekes for some time.
The former Ranger was signed as a free agent over the summer to spell Martin Brodeur. Weekes was injured 6:06 in the game when Rangers forward Sean Avery shoved Devils defensemen Johnny Oduya into the crease, sending Weekes crashing into the post before hitting the ice hard. Weekes appeared woozy as he was helped to the locker room.
The Devils downplayed the injury.
"He's going to be fine," Devils coach Brent Sutter said.
Weekes was not available for comment after the game. New Jersey spokesperson Jeff Altstadter said Weekes was already on the team bus and was not going to a hospital.
Jordan Parise, the older brother of Devils winger Zach Parise, replaced Weekes and played the rest of the game.
