Timo Meier scores two goals to lead the Devils over the Rangers 4-0

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Timo Meier scored twice and Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves as the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 4-0 on Saturday in an outcome that clinched the Tampa Bay Lightning their eighth straight playoff berth.

Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier also scored as New Jersey won its third straight while the Rangers had their two-game winning streak snapped.

After a scoreless first, Meier scored on the power play at 10:56 of the second, beating Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin just four seconds after Sam Carrick took an interference penalty.

Bratt made it 2-0 — shorthanded at 12:23 — with his 21st goal.

Meier scored his second of the game and 24th of the season at 15:01 of the third. Hischier made it 4-0 at 16:12 with his team-leading 35th goal. Hischier added two assists.

Markstrom denied the Rangers the rest of the way for his fourth shutout of the season and the 24th of his career. The 35-year-old Swedish netminder is 26-14-6 in his first season with the Devils.

The Rangers, a year after finishing with the league’s best record, are in danger of missing the playoffs. They trail Montreal by two points with six games remaining. Montreal has seven games left.

New York failed on its two power-play chances and have scored only twice in their last 43 man-advantage opportunities.

New Jersey is solidly in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points.

Shesterkin made 12 saves in tghe loss, falling to 25-27-5 this season.

Rangers: Fell to 18-16-4 on the road, including a 5-0 drubbing at Prudential Center in their previous visit on Dec. 23.

Devils: Improved to 19-13-15 at home with their fourth win in five games overall.

Meier’s goal midway through the second period snapped a scoreless tie and the disjointed Rangers generated little offense for the second half of the contest.

New Jersey is 34-1-2 when leading after two periods. The Devils have nine shutouts overall this season.

Rangers: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.

Devils: Host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière (13) shoots the puck during the first period an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) plays the puck away from New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) and New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) reacts after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils right wing Timo Meier (28) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive commission said Thursday it will put its retaliation measures against new U.S. tariffs on hold for 90 days to match President Donald Trump’s pause on his sweeping new tariffs and leave room for a negotiated solution.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the commission, which handles trade for the 27 member countries, “took note of the announcement by President Trump.”

New tariffs on 20.9 billion euros ($23 billion) of US goods will be put on hold for 90 days because “we want to give negotiations a chance,” she said in a statement.

But she warned: “If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in.”

Trump imposed a 20% levy on goods from the EU as part of his onslaught of tariffs against global trading partners but has said he will pause them for 90 days to give countries a chance to negotiate solutions to U.S. trade concerns.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily halt most U.S. tariffs, but she did not say whether the European Union intends to press ahead with its own retaliatory measures.

“I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” Trump said, after recognizing the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increases in tariffs. Countries subject to the pause will now be tariffed at 10%. The EU's rate was 20%, but it was not entirely clear how the 27-nation bloc would be impacted.

China was not included. Trump further jacked up the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.

Von der Leyen described the halt on reciprocal tariffs as “an important step towards stabilizing the global economy. Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function.”

Before Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU member countries voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to his 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The EU, the largest trading partner of the U.S., described them as “unjustified and damaging.”

The tariffs are set to go into effect in stages, some on April 15 and others on May 15 and Dec. 1. The EU commission didn’t immediately provide a list of the goods. The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington for weeks trying to head off a conflict.

But Von der Leyen gave no sign that the EU’s timetable has changed. Spokesman Olof Gill noted that the commission “will now take the necessary time to assess this latest development, in close consultation with our member states and industry, before deciding on next steps.”

Members of the EU – the world’s largest trading bloc – repeated their preference for a negotiated deal to settle trade issues, and von der Leyen underscored that commitment, “with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade.”

Still, the head of the EU’s executive branch – which negotiates trade deals and disputes on behalf of the member countries – said that Europe intends to diversify its trade partnerships.

She said that the EU will continue “engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” and to lift barriers to commerce inside its own single market.

“Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis,” von der Leyen said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stands prior to a meeting with Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

The NYK Meteor container ship is moored at the Port of Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)