Rangers stifling defense in 3-1 win over Devils
By Steve Paulus
![Apr 5, 2022; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (45) hits New Jersey Devils center Jesper Boqvist (70) during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports Apr 5, 2022; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (45) hits New Jersey Devils center Jesper Boqvist (70) during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b2d3b5833c13d806c08b9dda69edf28e88e06dc7cae181c9ebec0283e101efca.jpg)
Notes on the game
- With the win, the Rangers have a 45-20-6 record and 96 points. Carolina and Pittsburgh both lost so the Rangers are two points out of first place and four points ahead of the third place Penguins. The Hurricanes do have a game in hand. Only three teams have more points than the Blueshirts.
- The Blueshirts improved their road record to 23-13-2. That’s the most since they won 27 in 2016-17
- The Rangers ended winning the season series 3-1 over the Devils. They outscored the Devils 13-12 in the four games and won both games at home, splitting on the road.
- The Rangers improved to 12-7-1 against Metropolitan Division teams, gaining 25 of 40 points.
- This was the 25th come-from-behind win by the Rangers this season. That is the most in the NHL, two more than runner up Florida.
- The Rangers are 17-6-3 in games after a loss.
- The penalty kill was perfect for the third straight game and have killed the last 10 penalties. They are 10th overall in the NHL successful 81.3% of the time.
- The power play was 2-3, scoring two PP goals in one game for the first time in 13 games. They had dropped to fourth overall, but the two goals moved them back into second place with a 26.8% success rate.
- It was a record setting night for Chris Kreider. He scored his 47th goal, third most in the NHL. He set the franchise record with his 25 power play goal, five more than Leon Draisaitl. He is one of 30 NHL players to register that many power play goals in a season since 1933.
- Kreider also became the first Ranger to ever register 10 game winning goals in one season.
- Ryan Strome made a nice return from injury. He broke up an odd man rush in the first period with a solid defensive play and got the Rangers on the board on the power play. With him out of the lineup the power play went 2-10.
- Braden Schneider had the first fight of his career, a TKO over Yegor Sharangovich who challenged him after Schneider laid out Jesper Boqvist with a solid, legal body check. The refs got the call right, giving Sharangovich the additional two minutes for instigating and a 10 minute misconduct. After the game, Kreider said that they are calling Schneider “Baby Trouba.”
- This was the 17th multi-assist game of the year for Artemi Panarin. He is one off the franchise record of 18 held by Brian Leetch, Mark Messier and Jean Ratelle. The NHL record is 44 held by you know who (the Great One).
- Alexandar Georgiev won his fifth straight start and is now 12-9-2 on the season. He stopped 20 of 21 shots for the win.
- The Devils were shorthanded and played without Jack Hughes, out for the season with a knee injury. Sharangovich never returned after his fight with Braden Schneider and Jimmy Vesey went down in the second with a leg injury.