The New York Rangers were defeated 5-2 tonight by the New Jersey Devils, who have not played a game since January 31. New York fought again on the offensive side of the record and just couldn’t find a way to beat MacKenzie Blackwood consistently. Igor Shesterkin gave Rangers every opportunity to excel in this game with his strong game in the first period. Unfortunately, the race support was not there again and the Rangers lost their fourth game in a row.
1st period
No score.
2nd period
Pavel Zacha (3) – Damon Severson (4) and Janne Kuokkanen (3) PPG – 7:37
After a quick start by the Devils in the first period, they were able to attack first in the second period in the power game. The Rangers were unable to gain control of the puck in the ensuing confrontation and the Devils began to work on the male lead. New York simply gave Pavel Zacha a lot of space at the top of the showdown circle, and he hit Igor Shesterkin with a wrist shot.
Colin Blackwell (2) – Brett Howden (2) – 11:32 am
Almost four minutes later, the Rangers finally got the answer they desperately needed to lift their spirits. Colin Blackwell managed to break free by entering the offensive zone, and Brett Howden got a quick pass for him. Instead of looking for an additional pass, Blackwell ducked his head and fired after Blackwood to tie the game 1-1 for Rangers.
Will Butcher (1) – Nick Merkley (2) and Janne Kuokkanen (4) – 17:14
The Rangers’ bad luck continued, as the Devils managed to regain the advantage of a goal with less than three minutes to go until the end of the second period. Will Butcher’s shot from the left corner of the ice bounced off the traffic and somehow crossed over the goal line. Igor Shesterkin never saw the puck with the number of bodies in front, and New Jersey took the lead 2-1.
Pavel Buchnevich (4) – Chris Kreider (1) and Jacob Trouba (3) – 19:27
Despite giving up the final goal against, Rangers continued with their game and ended up drawing the game once again. Chris Kreider did all the heavy lifting in terms of possession of the record and fired the record back into the ice. Pavel Buchnevich was able to corner the pass and immediately fired a quick wrist shot that hit Blackwood in the glove hand.
3rd period
Yegor Sharangovich (2) – PK Subban (4) and Jesper Bratt (2) – 10:43
The third periods have often been terrible for the Rangers, and that was the case again tonight. Despite not playing a game in 15 days, the Devils were flying at the start of the third period. This ended up leading to the green goal at the 10:43 mark, courtesy of Yegor Sharangovich. Sharanagovich was able to deflect the shot from PK Subban at the top of the fold and hit Shesterkin under the right arm.
Nick Merkley (1) – Janne Kuokkanen (5) – 14:04
The Rangers continued to pursue the game throughout the third period and, less than four minutes later, the Devils extended the advantage. Nick Merkley was able to open in the high slot, and connected a stopwatch under the crossbar of a beautiful centering feed by Janne Kuokkanen. That goal was the last nail in the coffin for the Rangers, as they lost 4-2 less than five minutes before the end of regulation time.
Mikhail Maltsev (1) – Kyle Palmieri (4) ING – 19:39
Same story, different game for the Rangers, since their attack could not go and, finally, they find a way to lose. It sucks too, because they haven’t even played so badly again, they just can’t seem to find a way to create their own luck. To make matters worse, their luck on the other side of the record also remains terrible. Two deflections hardly escape Shesterkin, while the Rangers fail to score a goal with an open shot in the middle of the ice. Sometimes this is how things happen and the Rangers are now without a win in their last four meetings.
After another disappointing defeat, the Rangers will have a break tomorrow before returning to action Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.