TOM GULITTI

NEWARK - Fedor Fedorov was not around last season when the Devils lost to the Rangers in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

But that didn't mean that Fedorov didn't have a personal stake in Wednesday night's 3-2 preseason victory over the Rangers at Prudential Center.

Fedorov last played in the NHL with the Rangers in the fall of 2005. Although that stint lasted only three games, Fedorov insisted that Wednesday's game meant no more to him than Monday night's exhibition in Philadelphia.

"I think every game counts here," he said. "It doesn't matter who it is. I just have to be myself and do the little things right now and keep it simple."

Fedorov, 27, provided a screen in front on Jamie Langenbrunner's 5-on-3 goal that opened the scoring 4:54 into the game, but took a high-sticking penalty that led to Brian Fahey's tying power-play goal at 10:17 of the first.

Zach Parise put the Devils ahead for good with 24.4 seconds left in the first period, beating Henrik Lundqvist from outside the right post with 24.4 seconds left in the opening period, and added a second goal with 3:20 remaining to make it 3-1.

That goal proved critical when Petr Nedved cut it to 3-2 with 2:07 remaining.

Fedorov, whose older brother Sergei plays in Washington, is trying to earn a job with the Devils after playing in the Europe the last two seasons. He calls his time with the Rangers "a blur".

Unfortunately for him, the most notable thing about it was a Nov. 10, 2005, incident in which he was punched in the face at a Tampa nightclub. Although the Rangers said Fedorov was not to blame for an incident that left him with a broken nose and swollen eye, he was sent down to Hartford a week later.

Fedorov has little to say about his time with the Rangers, though.

"It's in the past," he said. "I'm moving on."

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said he was unaware of the Tampa incident.

"Everybody goes through different things," Lamoriello said. "I just know that he's been a model citizen with us."

The Devils have had success in the past with salvaging other organization's discards -- i.e. Johnny Oduya, Mike Mottau - and are hoping for the same with Fedorov, who put up 12 goals and 14 assists in 49 games for Dynamo Moscow in Russia last season. That's why they signed him to a one-year, $500,000 contract in July.

Fedorov, who originally was drafted by Tampa Bay in 1999 and had brief NHL stints with Vancouver in 2002-03 and 2003-04, has the skills to play in the league. He's 6 feet 3, 230 pounds, and is a strong skater and puck-handler with an excellent shot.

The questions about Fedorov always have been about his work ethic and consistency.

"I saw him in Vancouver a few years ago and I thought he lacked that," Devils' coach Brent Sutter said. "He lacked the intensity and the emotion of the game. Yet, he went overseas and, by all accounts, he's turned the corner in some ways."

Fedorov said he matured during his two years in Europe.

"I was just growing in every direction," he said. "I was playing a lot of hockey, played with good players. Just maturing and getting better, that's all. I think every year helps you in some way or another."