Rangers Pick Up First Preseason Loss in Newark

Between the Devils having all of their NHL guys in Prague for their upcoming opening night abroad and the Rangers icing a line up to match that, this was a preseason game that if anything, was really more of a preview for the Hartford Wolf Pack and Utica Comets. 

Here’s how the team lined up for Preseason Game #4:

Othmann - Groulx - Blidh

Berard - Roobroeck - Edstrom

Sykora - McConnell-Barker - Erne

Sucese - Jenkins - Chmelar

Mackey - Mancini

Hillman - Fitzgerald

Scanlin - Bowey

Quick/Domingue (Quick playing the whole game) 

1st Period:

After a spirited start between the junior varsity squads, the Rangers got one of the first major scoring chances as Adam Sýkora found himself on a clear breakaway. Despite pulling off a clean forehand-backhand move, he was shut down by goaltender Jeremy Brodeur.. Yes, in relation to Martin Broduer (son). 

Just a couple of minutes later, the Devils would get their turn with the breakaway opportunity as Max Willman fed Brian Halonen, sending him in all alone with Jonathan Quick. Halonen was able to sneak a shot through the veteran netminder's five hole to make it a 1-0 game close to halfway through the first. 

About five minutes later, the Devils found themselves on another breakaway, this time with Nathan Legare in all alone on Quick. The Penguins draft pick-turned Lavall Rocket-turner Devil pulled off a beautiful, patient move to completely fake out Quick, 2-0 Devils. 

With five minutes to go in the first, Jaroslav Chmelar was sent off for tripping up Chase Stillman off an offensive zone face-off. The Devils power play moved the puck well and spent the majority of those two minutes in the Rangers zone, requiring a quality save or two from Quick who was already off to a tough start. 

After successfully killing the man advantage, the Rangers would get their turn with the power play with 71 seconds to go in the opening period.  Madison Bowey was cross-checked by Willman in their own zone which brought out a top unit of Berard, Erne, Edstrom, Mancini, and Othmann. One good look from Othmann on the one-timer was all there would really be time for as the Rangers took a 2-0 deficit into the first intermission. 

Shots on goal throughout the first twenty were 14-9 in favor of New Jersey. 

2nd Period:

As the Rangers looked to get their power play set up for one final chance, Brennan Othmann took a hit from behind which gave the Rangers a 5-on-3 for four seconds. Certainly not enough time to truly take advantage but still an opportunity for the Rangers to have an extended power play. Alas, to no avail, the Blueshirts remained off the scoreboard. 

Five minutes into the second, the Rangers had their next best chance of the night as B.O. Groulx came in for a breakaway on Brodeur but had Anton Blidh trailing right behind him. The breakaway became a partial 2-on-0, certainly enough for Groulx to decide to feed Blidh with the pass but Blidh missed wide. 

Nearing the midway point of the second, Xavier Parent was called for slashing in the offensive zone to send the Rangers back to the power play but again, no dice as the score remained 2-0. The Devils were doing a solid job of killing penalties and were carrying the energy they established early on throughout the second. 

The Rangers weren’t generating a ton of offense, credited with only two shots on goal throughout the first 15 minutes of the second. However, their infrequent shots were quality chances with Blade Jenkins testing Broduer with a quick shot on the blocker side. As the play went the other way, a little scuffle broke out after Quick froze the play which was about as exciting as this game seemed to get up to that point. 

It wasn’t much, however it was enough to send Casey Fitzgerald and Xavier Parent off for coincidental roughing minors. As the teams skated 4-on-4 for two of the final five minutes of the second, play picked up but again, it was the Devils generating a bulk of the offense. 

The Rangers continued to struggle to crack the Brodeur code as Fitzgerald found Nate Sucese right at the doorstep but was robbed by the sprawling leg of the Devils netminder. As play went the other way, Mike Hardman tried to get a rise out of Brandon Scanlin which resulted in a slashing call against New Jersey. 4th power play chance for the Rangers to wrap up the second but still nothing to show for. 

Tensions continued to rise as Adam Erne got tangled up in a shoving match with Halonen as the buzzer to the second sounded which resulted in a proper glove-dropping scrap. No real winner as the officials eventually separated the two but a well spirited bout nonetheless. 

Score remained the same at 2-0 Devils after two. Shots on goal now 25-15 New Jersey. 

3rd Period:

Erne was awarded an extra penalty related to his scrap with Halonen which left the teams at 4-on-4 for roughly 45 seconds to start the period. That led to a Devils power play that eventually became a 5-on-3 as Connor Mackey was called for cross-checking. It wouldn’t be long before the Devils found the back of the net as a result with Kevin Lebanc, on a PTO, let a quick wrist shot go that was destined for the back of the net, 3-0 Devils. 

About seven minutes into the third, Chase Stillman was called for goaltender interference to give the Rangers yet another opportunity with the man advantage. Much of the same as the power play units could barely stay onside let alone get much of anything generated. 

With six minutes to go and an offensive zone face-off due, Peter Laviolette opted to call a time out in attempts to get something going from this group. Dylan Roobroeck did a good job of winning the draw and Brennan Othmann was able to get a quality couple of shots off but Brodeur still wasn't budging. Following the final TV timeout, the Rangers pulled Quick for the extra attacker.

After Lebanc nearly picked up his second on an empty net attempt that became an icing call, the Devils sent the puck over the glass to earn a delay of game penalty. This sent the Rangers to a 6-on-4 opportunity for two of the final four minutes which resulted in yet another missed chance for Anton Blidh on a near empty net right at the door step. Finally, with 1:42 to go in the period, Blidh would finally capitalize on a rebound off a Brett Berard initial shot.

Despite the late goal, the Devils held on to their well-established lead to give the Rangers their first loss of the preseason. The teams had originally planned to do a shootout regardless of how things played out but as mysteriously as that decision was made, it had seemingly been revoked as that would be all for night one with the Devils. The Rangers will be right back at it tomorrow with the Devils on home ice, likely with some more regulars in the mix.