Fansided

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

By Marvin Azrak |
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When asked to describe the series opener, the responses received from both New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils fans all included the word experience.
When asked to describe the series opener, the responses received from both New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils fans all included the word experience. /

“I think the early part was all playoff experience, and the Devils got stronger as the game continued,” one Devils response read. “We have more experience, and it showed tonight,” a pleased Rangers fan said.

Ah, yes, the word experience. As a noun, it means “Practical contact with and observation of facts or events.” In contrast, as a verb, it means to “Encounter or undergo (an event or occurrence).”

Regardless of your route, that was how Rangers 5 Devils 1 unfolded Tuesday night at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. The Blueshirts playoff veterans outshined the Devils’ first-timers, and when the tide seemed to be shifting as it did in certain moments, New York’s goaltender Igor Shesterkin was there to steady it. “We played the right way,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said. “We talked about managing the puck, not getting turnovers, and giving them odd-man rushes. I thought we skated hard, but the biggest thing for us was we forechecked well, did a good job in their zone, and didn’t spend as much time in our zone.”

It was a veteran masterpiece from the more seasoned team.

“They may have more experience, but we have a bunch of rebels ready to go,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said before the game. Yet those rebels were no match for the Rangers, who took control early and never looked back en route to a convincing game-one victory. Here’s a breakdown of how they did that.

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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.

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Executing on the Power Play and Penalty Kill can go a long way toward being successful in the playoffs, and the Rangers wasted no time establishing both of their lethal units.

Five minutes after Tarasenko gave the Rangers an early lead, Chris Kreider doubled it by tipping an Adam Fox shot from the point on the power play for his 35th career playoff goal to become the franchise’s all-time leader.

That was enough for the Rangers’ penalty kill, who held the Devils without a shot in their four power-play attempts. They blocked shots, got sticks in lanes, neutralized the Devils’ trademark speed with their physicality, and were more aggressive on the forecheck. The Devils wingers rarely had time to set up.

“That’s what happens in playoffs, you dig deep,” said Barclay Goodrow, who, along with linemates Tyler Motte and Jimmy Vesey, played a crucial role in the Blueshirts’ defensive efforts as the trio combined for seven blocked shots.”They’re a highly skilled team that can create much if you let them. Did a pretty good executing our game plan.”

Part of the game plan was to contain Jack Hughes, who set a Devils franchise record with 99 points during the regular season and earned high praise from his idol, Patrick Kane, before the game. “I think he does some things better than I did at that age(21),” Kane said. “I think he’s a better overall skater.”

Hughes dazzled in his playoff debut. He used his shiftiness to carve up the Rangers’ defense several times for quality scoring chances.

But New York didn’t make it easy on the kid. Hughes was knocked down a few times, saw several shot attempts blocked, and was charged with five turnovers.

“I was really happy with how they competed and did the little things to win hockey games,” Gallant said when asked about the Rangers’ penalty kill, which largely contributed to the team’s 23 blocks. The tally ironically equaled the number of shots they had on goal.

New York didn’t test the Devils in their zone often but made it count when they did. The Blueshirts made it 3-0 late in the second period when defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who scored once all regular season, received a pass from Adam Fox and, from the side of the net, lifted the puck over Vanecek’s shoulder. “That was crazy. That was a really pretty goal”, Kreider said. “I jumped two feet in the air after that.” “I didn’t think he could make a shot higher than knee,” Shesterkin joked.

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The goal took away any momentum New Jersey might’ve had from an Alexis Lafrenière tally being called back less than a minute earlier because of a high stick.

At the 11:07 mark of the third, Kreider gave fans another chance to jump with him, tipping another Fox shot for his second power-play goal of the night, extending the Rangers’ lead to 4-0.

From there, it was all about goaltending.

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Igor Shesterkin didn’t face his first shot until 8:00 in. But by then, he was already making an impact, as he prevented a New Jersey scoring chance in the opening minutes by deflecting a pass out of play. When shots did get through, Shesterkin was his Vezina-self.

Timo Meier and Nico Hischier were denied from the slot early in the second. Then, the netminder came sliding out aggressively to stonewall Tomas Tatar from the slot after he’d taken a centering feed from Hughes, who was later stopped on a breakaway.

The goaltender looked even better in the third, as he stonewalled Dougie Hamilton, Meier, Jack Hughes, and Ryan Graves within the opening three minutes, as the Devils became desperate, trailing 3-0. With 16:52 left, he made his best save of the night, flashing the leather on Ondrej Palat.

He looked on his way to the first postseason shutout of his career, but a K’Andre Miller turnover led to Jacob Trouba tripping Jack Hughes, forcing a penalty shot.

Hughes scored with 2:46 remaining to dash Shesterkin’s shutout hopes. The goal led to the Devils pulling Vanacek, where Filip Chytil came through with an empty-netter to seal it. Overall, Shesterkin finished with 27 saves on 28 shots.

It was a good win, but it’s only one game in what’s expected to be a long series. The Rangers locker room made that crystal clear.

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“We were the team that didn’t have quote unquote much experience last year,” Adam Fox, who had four assists on the night and became the quickest Rangers defenseman to reach 20 playoff assists(Now has 22 in 24 games), said. “They’re a hungry team. They’re young. It’s a long series. It’s one game, but obviously, we have a lot of guys who have been through it before. But it’s just game one. You’ve still got to win three more.”

“Game 2 is the hardest one to win after you win Game 1”, echoed Chris Kreider. “We’re happy with how the first game went. We’ll be happy for 10, 15 minutes, then get ready for Game 2.” “The next game is in two days(Thursday),” Vladimir Tarasenko said. “There are some guys in here with some playoff experience, and it’s very important to take lessons from this game and move on. Don’t think about how we’re up 1-0. Just step by step, game by game.”

MARV’S 3 STARS:

Honorable Star: Barclay Goodrow (1 hit, 3 blocks, 63.6 face-offs winning percentage, “Sasquatch Score” of 4, in 13:13 of ice time, )

3. Chris Kreider (2 goals, 1 hit, 1 block, 100% face-off winning percentage, “Sasquatch Score” of 4, in 19:40 of ice time)

2. Igor Shesterkin (27 saves on 28 shots, +1.69 Goals Saved Above Expected)

1. Adam Fox ( 4 Assists, +2 rating, 3 hits, 4 blocks, 1 takeaway, “Sasquatch Score” of 11, in 20:20 of ice time)

What is “Sasquatch score?”: While researching this series, I studied “Pucks and Pitchforks,” the New Jersey Devils’ FanSided site, and found the exciting stat. It’s a stat birthed by contributor Joseph Stanislau, combining a player’s points, hits, and blocked shots.

BLS COMMENT OF THE NIGHT: “GREAT WIN. The Rangers did what they had to do for this win. They put the pressure on. Shesterkin was amazing. The third line kept the puck in the Devils’ zone, and Kreider looked like the Keider we love. PP was fantastic, and the home ice advantage for the Devils has now been taken away. “-Dlagura

WHAT THEY SAID: “The inexperience argument that many people have thrown out there was scoffed at by Devils fans. It is time for Devils fans to realize it is a very real thing. The Devils and their fans were humbled by the Rangers tonight. It is okay for people to admit that their team has flaws. If Ruff and the Devils do not correct those flaws, this series may be over even before game five.”-Charlie Borges JR, Pucks, and Pitchforks

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