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

Equally as impressive as the Rangers’ offense has been their defense. They’ve limited a Devils offense that averaged 3.52 goals per game in the regular season, good for fifth in the NHL, to just two in the first two games of the series. Most of that can be attributed to goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who made 22 saves on 23 shots and has a +2.88 Goals Saved Above Expected for the series.

But the Blueshirts forwards have helped out too. Anytime New Jersey looked to push the pace, there was the fine stick work of Mika Zibanejad, breaking up the attempted east-west plays.

When the Devils looked to establish the forecheck, Vincent Trocheck and Vladimir Tarasenko kept them honest by wearing them out with their physicality. “The forwards are helping us out so much,” Ryan Lindgren told the Athletic. “They’re getting back and reloading behind us. That gives us a chance to stay in the neutral zone and not let them get as much speed as they want. That’s huge against a team like that that wants to make plays with speed.”

Sometimes,  the Devils looked to get under the Rangers’ skin, but Jacob Trouba would answer it with one of his bone-crunching hits each time. “Playing that way and that physical isn’t easy to do all the time,” the captain, who had a game-high eight hits,  told the New York Post.  “There are times in the regular season if we’re behind, we fall into the trap of saying, ‘Let’s skill it out.’ But we didn’t fall into that trap tonight.”

The infectious energy surged throughout the lineup, as even Braden Schneider wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

These Rangers haven’t only beaten the Devils through their first 120 minutes of playoff hockey, but they’ve eradicated them. As a result, there will be more adjustments made by New Jersey. Come Saturday, we could see Akira Schmid handling the net instead of Vitek Vanecek.  Regardless, the fans, who filled the arena with “Let’s Go Rangers” and Igor’s better” chants towards the end of the game, and the Rangers will be ready for it. “I can’t wait to see the Garden,” Kane said. Neither can we. Bring on game three.

MARV’S 3 STARS:

1. Patrick Kane (1 goal, 2 assists, 17:56 of ice time)

2. Chris Kreider (2 goals, 19:52 of ice time)

3. Igor Shesterkin (22 saves on 23 shots, +1.19 Goals Saved Above Expected)

Honorable Star: Jacob Trouba(8 hits, 3 blocks, 22:10 of ice time)

BLS FAN COMMENT THE NIGHT:  “I can’t decide what is most impressive.  The Rangers own the offensive zone with the forecheck. They dominate on the PP.  The PK is awesome.  They’re giving the Devils no room in the D-zone.  All unbelievably solid.”- Steve Paulus 

WHAT THEY SAID: “The team should feel embarrassed by their play and need to completely change everything before heading to the Big Apple.
Having an opposing team chanting “Let’s Go Rangers” in your own building and “Igor” while most jerseys are blue at the end of the game is not a good look. The guys on the ice needed to give the fans something to cheer for. Even if they came up short in a hard-fought game, at least show something.” -David Holliday, Pucks and Pitchforks