Rangers showed Devils value of playoff experience in Game one rout.

Despite being penalized three times in the first period, the Rangers led 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.

After killing off an early Vincent Trocheck penalty where New Jersey was held without a shot, Vladimir Tarasenko struck at the 4:58 mark for the series’ first goal. On the play, Artemi Panarin found K’Andre Miller and, as he skated across the ice, jumped three feet into the air, allowing the puck to find Tarasenko on the right side of the net, who wisely moved from the circle to the slot before ripping the rubber past Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek.

The goal was Tarasenko’s 42nd of his playoff career in only 91 games. More importantly, the tally reaffirmed a weakness in the Devils’ defense. The team finished last in the regular season in defending “Broken plays,” scoring chances off of unsettled pucks or turnovers in your defensive zone.

The goal also set the tone for the evening in the stands, as it silenced New Jersey’s boisterous crowd and allowed the Rangers fans in attendance to begin taking over the arena. Throughout the game, chants of “Let’s go Rangers” and “Igor,” chants you’d typically hear at Madison Square Garden, filled the air. The Blueshirts fed off the energy and gave them plenty more to cheer about.