This was a typical a Rangers-Devils game

The New York Rangers and New Jersey  Devils have had a weird dynamic over the past few years. Both teams have been rebuilding and have not seen postseason action, but they still put competitive games against one another and most create a playoff-like atmosphere. There are barely any blowouts but when there are, its closer than the scoreboard looks.

Over the past few years, there has been a tendency that the team that “dominated” the game, or at least for a period of time, ends up losing.

Look at tonight: While New York started off slow, they were able to outshoot New Jersey 50 to 28. Mackenzie Blackwood stood on his head while Alexandar Georgiev did not, and this was a difference maker in the game. 47 saves wins games singlehandedly for teams. The Devils started strong but ended up falling off, but still the Blueshirts could not convert and that proved to be the difference.

Last season, there were four games, and it can be argued that in all four the winning team actually looked weaker on the ice. The first game in October, New York outshot the Devils and had a third period surge, but still, the Devils pulled out with a 5-2 win. The Rangers had lapses and that proved to be the difference. In their second meeting, New York was shorthanded eight (eight!) times, but still prevailed to a 4-0 win behind the goaltending of Georgiev. The first game at the Garden New York was viciously outplayed, but they scored five goals en route to a 5-3 win. The last meeting the Rangers dominated the first period, took a 2-1 lead, but New Jersey had a ten minute span where they scored four goals to make the game 5-2. The rest of the game was New York’s but it was too late.

There are plenty more examples but it will look the same as above. Tonight was just another example of the Rangers outplaying its Hudson River rival and not taking any points.

There are no excuses to this game. This season is a sprint, not a marathon, and the team needs points whenever they can find them. The East Division is tough, and with so many good teams they need to take advantage of weak teams like the Devils. There were a few positives, like Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad scoring their first goals of the year and Igor Shesterkin looking good in the period he played, but when a team gets 50 shots they need to take two points.

Just watch. This is how the Rangers-Devils rivalry has played out usually. Watch the other seven times New York matches up against the Devils this season, and you’d be surprised. Who knows if this tendency will still be there but it is present now.

Next time they meet, don’t be surprised if the weaker team wins.