Rangers vs Devils: Devils Sweep Preseason Series with 4-2 Win Over Rangers
The New York Rangers dropped their second straight game of the preseason as they were defeated 4-2 by the New Jersey Devils this evening. The Rangers rolled out a completely new lineup tonight with the likes of Vladislav Namestnikov, Filip Chyil, Brett Howden, Pavel Buchnevich, Jesper Fast, Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal headlining the roster. Obviously it wasn’t nearly as exciting as the opening game, but nevertheless it was still a great opportunity to see some young players in action.
1st Period
Much like the Wedneday’s game, the Rangers found themselves down early in this game as Jack Hughes scored less then a minute into regulation. An errant puck caught the Rangers off-guard during a line change and Hughes was able to collect the puck all by himself. Henrik Lundqvist was pretty much left out to dry on the scoring opportunity and Hughes slipped the puck through his legs to make it 1-0.
A little past the halfway mark of the first period, the Devils were given a big power play opportunity and took full advantage. Jack Hughes burned the Rangers once again on a rush through the neutral zone and dished the puck over to Taylor Hall as he crossed the blue line. Hall absolutely smoked a wrist shot over the glove hand of Henrik Lundqvist and gave the the two-goal lead.
Things went from bad to worse later on in the period and Blake Coleman gave New Jersey a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the intermission.
2nd Period
After spotting the Devils a three goal lead, the Rangers finally showed some life early in the second period. Vladislav Namestnikov was able to pounce on a loose puck in the crease and slammed home the rebound. Pavel Buchnevich picked up the primary assist on the goal after putting on a shot on net that gave MacKenzie Blackwood some trouble.
A little over ten minutes after Namestnikov’s tally, the Devils came right back down the ice and restored their three goal lead. Adam Huska had just come into the game in relief of Henrik Lundqvist just prior to the goal, and didn’t have much time to settle in. Aside from giving up the early goal, Huska played extremely well to close out the period and kept the Rangers afloat.
3rd Period
The Rangers didn’t have much gas left in the tank after chasing the Devils around the entire night, and were caught in their own zone for extended periods of time. Thankfully, Adam Huska was brilliant throughout the final 20 minutes, including a string of incredible saves on one of New Jersey’s power plays.
With under five minutes remaining in regulation time, the Rangers needed something to feel good about and pulled back within a pair of goals. During their third power place chance of the night, Joe Morrow was able to throw a quick wrist shot on net from just inside the point. Brett Howden did an excellent job of providing the screen in front, and redirected the puck as it came in on MacKenzie Blackwood.
Howden got just enough of the puck to deflect it under Blackwood’s glove to pickup his first point of the preseason.
The Rangers will be right back in action tomorrow night as they visit the Philadelphia Flyers to mark the halfway point of the preseason.
