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Kakko back vs. Devils, Shesterkin not serious

By Steve Paulus

Mar 4, 2021; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) is helped off the ice during the third period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2021; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) is helped off the ice during the third period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko (24) in action during the game between the Rangers and the Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko (24) in action during the game between the Rangers and the Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

About the Rangers

Coach Quinn did confirm a couple of lineup changes, stating that Alexandar Georgiev will be in net and Kaapo Kakko is definitely going to play.   With Kakko back in the lineup, Quinn said they haven’ t decided who will sit.  He played with Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome in practice so Colin Blackwell could be the odd man out.  Quinn said “It’s not an easy decision, the guys you would consider played pretty well last night.”

While it could be easy to move Blackwell down to the third line, the bottom six played  very well and got the Rangers going in the second period after a dreadful opening 20 minutes.

Kakko said that he is feeling better and conceded that he was actually sick, but said “it was not too bad.”

Alexis Lafreniere also spoke after practice. He said that he’s “getting chemistry with my linemate (Buchnevich and Zibanejad) and we’ve been playing a couple games together…they’re really good players so I have to get open and they will find me.”

About the Devils

The Devils have lost four games in a row for the first time this season.  The six goals allowed was a season high for New Jersey.

Despite the loss, the Devils did outshoot the Rangers 36-19.  Not only that, the Devils had 69 scoring chances compared to only 32 for the Rangers.  They had 16 high danger chances compared to three for the Blueshirts.

What that means is the Rangers got superior goaltending, plain and simple.  Igor Shesterkin stole the game for the Rangers and Mackenzie Blackwood and Aaron Dell were mediocre.  You have to believe that the Devils are seizing on that  as they look to stop this streak.

The other positive the Devils can point to is their success in the faceoff circle. They won 64% of the draws,  another reason for the lopsided shot total.

Linidy Ruff wasn’t making any major lineup changes, but the Devils did move Michael McLeod to the taxi squad and promoting forward Brett Seney to the taxi squad from Binghamton. McLeod had run over Igor Shesterkin, taking an interference penalty and also laid a dangerous hit on Brendan Smith that prompted fisticuffs between the two.

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