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Rangers hammer Devils, take 2-0 series lead back across the Hudson.

By Marvin Azrak

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 20: (L-R) Adam Fox #23, Mika Zibanejad #93, Chris Kreider #20 and Artemi Panarin #10 celebrate a powerplay goal by Kreider at 9:57 of the second period against the New Jersey Devils during Game Two in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 20, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 20: (L-R) Adam Fox #23, Mika Zibanejad #93, Chris Kreider #20 and Artemi Panarin #10 celebrate a powerplay goal by Kreider at 9:57 of the second period against the New Jersey Devils during Game Two in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 20, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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In pursuit of victory, the Devils attended to their most prominent area of need, production on the power play. After a putrid game one, where they went 0 for 4 with no shots on goal, they pounced on their first opportunity in game two. After his penalty kill negated an early Rangers man-advantage opportunity, despite New York’s relentless pressure, Erik Haula delivered.
In pursuit of victory, the Devils attended to their most prominent area of need, production on the power play. After a putrid game one, where they went 0 for 4 with no shots on goal, they pounced on their first opportunity in game two. After his penalty kill negated an early Rangers man-advantage opportunity, despite New York’s relentless pressure, Erik Haula delivered. /

The winger pounced on the loose puck off a Michael McLeod rebound to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead at the 11:44 mark in the first period. Aside from that mishap, the Rangers controlled the first period, tactically clogging the middle of the ice to neutralize the Devils’ speed. However, although they sent 14 shots toward Vitek Vanecek’s way, they didn’t crash the net for rebounds, an area they ranked 27th in the regular season.

New Jersey also iced the puck an abundance of times, but their 18-11 edge in faceoffs  over the first 20 minutes, quickly negated those returning to haunt them. New York received a late power play when Nathan Bastian was penalized for boarding Ryan Lindgren, but that ended quickly when Adam Fox got boxed for roughing. Nevertheless, the Rangers knew the opportunities would continue to arise if they stuck with their game plan. All it needed was better execution, and they would take off just as they did in game one.

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