5 headlines from the 4-3 loss to the Devils in the preseason opener

Notes on the game

It’s not a Henrik Lundqvist disease.  The Rangers displayed the good old first and last minute-itis as they allowed a Devils goal 37 second into the game and with four seconds left in the first period, both against Alexandar Georgiev.

There were two fights in the game.  As predicted, Micheal Haley fought Brandon Baddock in the first period.  Baddock challenged Haley after he laid out Connor Carrick with a legal body check.   The second fight was between Nick Jones of the Rangers and Kevin Rooney of the Devils.  Jones low bridged John Hayden with a hip check and Rooney responded.

Cory Schneider had a very, very good game.  He was the first star for the Devils making spectacular stops on Kakko, ZIbanejad and Kreider.

Mikhail Maltsev scored a goal on a great move at the end of the first period.  Brandon Crawley had an awful giveaway and then Maltsev out muscled Brendan Smith for the goal.  The goal did not reflect well on Crawley or Smith.

The Rangers outshot the Devils 42-24.  The Rangers had 12 shots on the power play and hit two posts.

Kaapo Kakko had a lot of work.  He was third on the team with 20:50 minutes played and tied Mika Zibanejad with 5:48 on the power play.  He didn’t seem very comfortable leaving the ice and limped into the dressing room as the game ended.  He was still on the ice over the last two minutes of the game.

Micheal Haley had two thirds of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a fight and a goal.  You have to believe that David Quinn likes having him around.  Shades of Cody McLeod and Tanner Glass.

Brendan Smith had a very active game with five shots on goal in just over 11 minutes of ice time. He took the only minor penalty for the Rangers and it looked like he knows he is playing for his NHL career.  He played the right side as Brandon Crawley’s partner.

The all-rookie defense tandem of Adam Fox and Libor Hajek acquitted themselves quite well. In fact, it was the top pair of Trouba and Brady Skjei that was on ice for two of the four Devils goals.  Fox and Hajek were not scored upon.

The Panarin injury forced David Quinn to reshuffle his lines.  Boo Nieves was the chief beneficiary, playing almost 13 minutes compared to his fourth line partners, Jake Elmer and Micheal Haley who both played about seven minutes each.

This was an exhibition game.  The final result didn’t matter.  It was an entertaining game and gave fans a glimpse of what is to come.

Blue Line Station finally has pictures of all of the new players in Ranger uniforms.  Thank goodness.