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Rangers vs Devils: Tony DeAngelo’s Five Points Fuels 6-3 Win Over New Jersey

The New York Rangers picked up their second consecutive win and made it four straight wins at Madison Square Garden with a dominating 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Tony DeAngelo etched himself into the record books tonight as he tied the Rangers single-game record for goals and points by a defenseman, and became the first defenseman since Brian Leetch to record five points during a game. Igor Shesterkin also picked up his second career win and made 46 saves on the 49 shots he faced during the game.

1st Period

Artemiy Panarin (24) - Tony DeAngelo (24) & Adam Fox (19) - 5:42 1st Period

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to transition their strong play into the games’ opening goal, and Artemiy Panarin registered his 24th goal of the season. The Rangers did an excellent job of creating space down below the goal line, which drew attention away from Panarin slipping in from the point. Tony DeAngelo put the puck right on Panarin’s tape and the Breadman wired a one-timer past McKenzie Blackwood to give New York a 1-0 lead.

Kevin Rooney (1) SHG - Pavel Zacha (15) - 8:06 1st Period

The Rangers had a great opportunity to build on their lead as Brendan Smith drew an undisciplined interference penalty on P.K. Subban. A sloppy start to the power play eventually led to the Devils getting a chance off of an offensive zone faceoff, and they tied the game at one. Igor Shesterkin wound up leaving a rebound right at the top of his crease and Kevin Rooney tapped the puck home after beating Tony DeAngelo to the loose puck.

Tony DeAngelo (9) - Mika Zibanejad (17) & Chris Kreider (15) - 9:47 1st Period

Tony DeAngelo was the one who was a step slow to the rebound on the Devil’s first goal, and under two minutes later, DeAngelo made up for his mistake. Much like Panarin’s goal, DeAngelo was able to slip down from the point uncovered and one-timed a shot under the crossbar off of a beautiful pass from Mika Zibanejad.

Chris Kreider (14) PPG - Tony DeAngelo (25) & Mika Zibanejad (18) - 12:16 1st Period

After giving up a shorthanded goal on the previous power play, the Rangers got a little creative and created a scoring chance off of a ridiculous set play. Tony DeAngelo stepped out from behind his own net, but rather than making the breakout pass, DeAngelo slapped the puck off of the end boards. Chris Kreider read the play perfectly and burned down the ice to retrieve the loose puck. The puck bounced perfectly off of the end boards and landed right on Kreider’s stick to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.

Blake Coleman (14) - Damon Severson (10) & Travis Zajac (9) - 18:10 1st Period

To close out a high-scoring first period, the Devils were able to pull back within a goal as Blake Coleman picked up his 14th goal of the season. Another lost faceoff wound up hurting  the Rangers and Blake Coleman was able to deflect the puck on a shot from Damon Severson. There probably could’ve been a penalty called as Coleman crosschecked Adam Fox in front just prior to the deflection, but the Rangers were more than fine taking a one-goal lead into the intermission.

2nd Period

Blake Coleman (15) - Damon Severson (11) & Nikita Gusev (18) - 8:56 2nd Period

The Devils wound up tying the game at the 8:56 mark of the second period, but I’m not entirely sure anyone knew that the puck actually went in the net. Jacob Trouba wound up shoving Blake Coleman into the net, but it was an afterthought that the puck actually someone how entered the net. The officials took a long time looking at this, almost as if they were looking for any possible way to rule it a goal. MSG Networks showed 2-3 different angles of the play, and not once was the puck visible, let alone visible across the goal line.

Tony DeAngelo (10) - Marc Staal (4) & Pavel Buchnevich (17) - 12:08 2nd Period

I’m sure the goal against didn’t sit too well with the Rangers and a little over three minutes later, Tony DeAngelo struck for his second goal of the night. Marc Staal handed off the puck to DeAngelo at the blue line and he was able to make some space for himself to get into a shooting lane. Brett Howden provided an excellent screen in front of MacKenzie Blackwood and never allowed the goaltender to see the puck.

Tony DeAngelo (11) PPG - Ryan Strome (28) & Artemiy Panarin (36) - 15:02 2nd Period

Tony DeAngelo’s magical night continued in the second period as he completed the hat trick and added his FIFTH point of the game. It was nearly identical to his previous goal with plenty of space in the slot and a great screen in front by Chris Kreider. DeAngelo absolutely roofed his third goal of the game and ended MacKenzie Blackwood’s night as the hats came raining down from the MSG crowd.

3rd Period

Jesper Fast (7) - Ryan Strome (29) & Artemiy Panarin (37) - 12:56 3rd Period

Unlike the previous game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Rangers didn’t sit back on their lead in the third period. They kept pushing the pace and eventually picked up the sixth goal of the game off of a 2-on-1 rush between Jesper Fast and Ryan Strome. Artemiy Panarin created the entire chance with a ridiculous deflection coming out of the defensive end. Ryan Strome made an excellent pass across the slot to Fast and he slipped the puck under Louis Domingue.

Another solid game from the Rangers and Igor Shesterkin picked up his second career win in as many games. Shesterkin is certainly forcing the Rangers hand here and I think it’s safe to say he’s making a really strong case to stay up with the Rangers for good. Following two big wins at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers will head out West for a quick stop in St. Louis on Saturday evening.

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