Blue Line Station
Fansided

Jack Hughes stars in 4-2 Devils win over Rangers

By Steve Paulus

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 20: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers and Matt Tennyson #7 of the New Jersey Devils collide on the boards during the first period at the Prudential Center on September 20, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 20: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers and Matt Tennyson #7 of the New Jersey Devils collide on the boards during the first period at the Prudential Center on September 20, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 20: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils scores against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers at 34 seconds of the first period at the Prudential Center on September 20, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 20: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils scores against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers at 34 seconds of the first period at the Prudential Center on September 20, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

It was the essence of preseason New  York Rangers hockey  as a lineup made up mostly of  hopefuls lost 4-2 to the New Jersey Devils in Newark.

It was the second preseason game for the New York Rangers and they fielded a  lineup that  was missing most of the players who will ultimately make up the 2019-20 team.  The Devils played some of their top regulars including Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes, P.K. Subban, Kyle Palmieri and Wayne Simmonds.   On the other hand,  seven Rangers in the game were likely to start the season in New York with only Filip Chytil and Pavel Buchnevich representing the top two lines.

It was a sloppy effort that got off to an awful start.  If you are Henrik Lundqvist, the last thing you want to face in your first preseason game is a breakaway by the first draft pick.   Well, for the second straight game, the Rangers gave up a goal in the first minute.

Taylor Hall, playing in his first game since before Christmas, broke up a Ranger rush and got the puck to Jack Hughes who took advantage of a Ranger defense corps change to break in and beat Lundqvist through the five hole.

You have to be impressed by Jack Hughes.  He is fast and his vision is exemplary.  He has a lethal shot and his passing is pretty special. The rivalry between Kaapo Kakko and Hughes will be something else for a long time.

The Devils totally dominated the game, scoring three goals in the first period.  A Namestnikov goal got the Blueshirts within two, but the Devils padded their lead late in the second period and the game was never in reach.

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