The New York Rangers came into town as the last visitors to the Prudential Center this season looking for a win which would result in a sweep the season series with the Devils for the first time since the 1993/94 season and clinch the President’s Trophy. They started the game like they meant business. Using the speed of Carl Hagelin the Rangers managed to tally the first shot on goal within the first 30 seconds of the game but Cory Schneider was equal to it in the Devils net. For the New Jersey Devils it was almost as though we were watching game tape from Saturday’s embarrassing 6-1 defeat at MSG. The Rangers had to go to overtime to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets last night but you wouldn’t know that watching this game.
New Jersey Devils
Cory Schneider had to be on his toes early on as Mike Cammalleri and Adam Larsson took soft penalties resulting in a 2:33 power-play for New York that the Devils managed to kill off, including 1:27 of which was 5-on-3. Moments later a mix up behind the net by Eric Gelinas and Mark Fraser led to the puck bouncing to the front of the net right to the control of Kevin Hayes who slotted it in the Rangers 11th shot for the opening goal.
Less than a minute later Jacob Josefson took a hooking penalty and from the first face-off Ryan McDonagh fired from the point to put the Rangers 2-0 up. New Jersey found their way back into the game towards the end of the period as Andy Greene managed to draw a holding penalty to send Tanner Glass to the box at 16:17.
With just over half a minute left in the power-play the Devils pulled one back. Patient approach play with all five skaters touching the puck finished up with a Scott Gomez pass to Steve Bernier in front of the net and a deft touch back to an open Patrik Elias in the slot to score on Cam Talbot.
New Jersey started the 2nd period better than the first but soon fell into a sluggish pattern almost giving up a shorthanded goal to Rick Nash but Schneider stood up strong. Soon after the Devils gave the Rangers power-play after power-play after power-play, the 2nd and 3rd contributing to a Josefson penalty hat-trick.
Late in the period after killing off Josefson’s 3rd penalty Reid Boucher found himself with a scoring chance in on Cam Talbot only for the Rangers goalie to keep the door shut with his glove as Matt Hunwick closed in from the face-off dot. Shortly afterwards Eric Gelinas was sent to the box for roughing Dominic Moore for a penalty that carried over into the 3rd period. The Rangers went 0-6 on the man advantage after scoring on their first opportunity.
After killing off the remaining time on the Gelinas penalty to start the 3rd New Jersey went about trying to find the equalizer out shooting the Rangers 4-1 in the first five minutes. Eric Gelinas then took a hit from Tanner Glass that left the defenseman shaken up but he would go to the bench and not miss much time. Steve Bernier returned the favor by putting a big hit on Carl Hagelin minutes later.
The sides exchanged scoring chances with Tuomo Ruutu throwing a pass across the front towards Stefan Matteau then the Rangers went back the other way with Chris Kreider streaking in but had the puck poked away terrifically by Damon Severson. Adam Larsson had a long-range effort denied by Talbot after nice work from Reid Boucher to steal the puck from Martin St. Louis. A few moments later the Rangers re-opened the two goal advantage on a tip from James Sheppard on a Dominic Moore pass to the crease.
The Devils responded instantly as Cammalleri turned and passed to Travis Zajac who fed Steve Bernier, Bernier drew out Talbot before passing back toward Zajac but it was blocked by Derick Brassard who could then do nothing as his block rebounded off of Talbot back to his stick and the two Rangers could only watch as the puck evaded their attempts to stop it going over the line. Immediately after Talbot had to be good the deny Adam Henrique from tying the game. New Jersey enjoyed the vast majority of play in their search for an equalizer but were stopped by Talbot at every opportunity.
With two minutes left Schneider left for the bench to add an extra attacker to the Devils pressure on the Rangers zone only for Jon Merrill to under hit a pass to Severson leaving Hayes to slide the puck over to Carl Hagelin to put into the empty net. No other play could so perfectly sum up the Devils season.