Blue Line Station
Fansided

50 Rangers shots as the Devils steal a game (sort of)

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils makes the third period save on Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2021 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils makes the third period save on Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2021 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils scores against Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers at 32 seconds of the first period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils scores against Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers at 32 seconds of the first period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The game

It feels like it has happened a lot, but it only happened five times last season.  That would be allowing the opposition to score in the first two minutes of a game. Brock Nelson scored 2:33 into the opener for the Islanders and in this game, it was Travis Zajac just 32 seconds in. P.K.Subban sprung a break while the Rangers defense was changing.

That was the only goal of the first period and the Rangers got right back into it in the second period. On their first power play after a Michael McLeod roughing penalty, it was Kreider who scored.  It was a lucky goal as Kreider’s pass bounced off Ryan Murray and past Blackwood.

The big problem was that as soon as the Rangers had tied the score, it took 1:23 for Jack Hughes to regain thel lead.  The Devils won a faceoff in the Rangers’ zone and Hughes was able to put in the rebound of a Ty Smith point shot.

Four minutes later it was Hughes again on a breakaway after he blocked a Jacob Trouba pass.  Hughes flew into the Rangers’ zone and cleanly beat Alexandar Georgiev.

Just four minutes later it was Mika Zibanejad’s turn to score on the power play at 12:09.  He took a great no look pass from Adam Fox and put the one timer past Blackwood.  He didn’t get all of the puck and it sort of fluttered over the goalie’s shoulder.

After three calls in the Rangers favor, the Devil were due to get a power play and they did at 15:38 when Jacob Trouba high sticked Hughes behind the Rangers net.  It was Miles Woods’ turn to score as Hughes got his third point of the game at 16:00.  Just 1:37 later, it looked like a fourth point for Hughes as Subban scored, but the goal was challenged by David Quinn and the play was ruled off side.

Igor Shesterkin was in the net at the start of the third period.  Georgiev didn’t have a bad game, but he wasn’t at his best and there were some stops he should have made.

The third period was all Rangers and they were gifted three power plays by the Devils, but were unable to score.  They did get within one goal when Filip Chytil scored at the seven minute mark.  Pavel Buchnevich led the rush into the offensive zone, won the scrum behind the net and Phil Di Giuseppe got the puck to a net crashing Filip Chytil who put it past Blackwood..

The Rangers outshot the Devils 21-8 in the period and had  two man advantage with two minutes left when they pulled the goalie on a power play but were unable to finish.

Still, Mackenzie Blackwood deserves all the credit for this win and you could make a case for him stealing this win. He was simply outstanding.

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