The New Jersey Devils thrashed the New York Rangers 4-0 in Game 5 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday night. With the win, New Jersey takes its first lead of the series at 3-2 after winning three straight games. The Devils have a chance to close out the series at Madison Square Garden in Game 6 on Saturday.
Game Summary
First Period
It was a dream start for the Devils with Ondrej Palat opening the scoring just 39 seconds in. Igor Shesterkin kicked a puck back into the slot off a faceoff and Palat’s rebound effort ramped off Adam Fox’s stick and over the Rangers netminder. Palat’s 50th career playoff goal gave the Devils an early 1-0 lead.
After the goal, the Rangers found a foothold in the game and had some chances the other way that Akira Schmid was equal to. Early on, the game was fairly even in terms of chances, but felt much more open than Games 3 and 4.
However, the Devils went to the first power play of the game. They had a couple of decent chances, but were unable to beat Shesterkin.
The Rangers best chance of the period came around the 11 minute mark. Off a giveaway, New York had a three-on-one, but Schmid flashed the leather to deny Artemi Panarin an equalizing goal.
The Rangers then went to a power play of their own, after Jonas Siegenthaler hooked Vladimir Tarasenko to deny a chance after a long shift. However, New York was unable to generate any high-danger chances and the Devils killed it off.
Late in the period, Dawson Mercer had a good chance off a cycle down low. His chance from a sharp angle rang off the crossbar and out.
After one, it was 1-0 Devils with shots 10-8 in favor of NJ. The Devils had a 51.85 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 49.87 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) at five-on-five.
Second Period
The Devils went to an early power play in the second and it started out ugly. The first unit failed repeatedly to enter the zone and had to cycle off. The second unit eventually got set up, and made it count.
Damon Severson did a terrific job walking the blue line and saucered a pass to Dawson Mercer in the bumper spot. Mercer flung it on net and Erik Haula deflected it through the five-hole of Shesterkin and just over the goal line with one second left on the man advantage to double the NJ lead.
After the goal, the Rangers surged the other way, but Akira Schmid made a sprawling glove save to deny Kaapo Kakko on a rebound chance.
The game continued at more of an up and down pace in the second, but both goalies continued to play well.
With eight minutes to go in the period, Kevin Bahl threw a pair of body checks and dropped the gloves with Barclay Goodrow. In the ensuing scrum, Damon Severson took an unsportsmanlike minor penalty, so the Devils went shorthanded.
However, the Devils penalty kill came up big yet again. Erik Haula poked a loose puck away from Artemi Panarin and led a two-on-one the other way. He fed Dawson Mercer who buried a one-timer just under the crossbar, making it a 3-0 game. It was Mercer’s first of the playoffs.
New Jersey completed the kill and began to fly forward at five-on-five. Igor Shesterkin was forced into a huge glove save on Timo Meier, and began yelling at his bench to pick up their play.
Late in the period, the Rangers had one last good look after Schmid turned the puck over in the slot to Kakko, who fired wide. New York kept the exhausted Devils skaters pinned in the zone for over a minute, but eventually Schmid got to freeze the puck.
After two, it was 3-0 Devils. Shots were 13-13 in the second with the Devils having just a 30.56 CF% and a 42.37 xGF% at five-on-five.
Third Period
The third period was a masterpiece from New Jersey in how to defend the lead. New Jersey went to another early power play after Mika Zibanejad was called for goalie interference after appearing to be pushed into the crease. The Devils didn’t score after some huge saves from Shesterkin, but burned two more minutes off the clock.
Despite the score, the Devils were fully in control of the game, continuing to generate terrific looks off the rush. Again though, Shesterkin was playing great, denying chance after chance.
They had another power play midway through the period after Patrick Kane held Meier on a breakaway. Once again, Shesterkin neutralized the power play with some excellent saves, but time was running out on New York.
The Rangers best chance game with about seven minutes to go. A wild net front scramble had Erik Haula and Jack Hughes laying out in the crease, but New Jersey eventually got the puck cleared.
With five minutes left, Gerard Gallant pulled his goalie, and the Devils immediately capitalized. Nico Hischier won a faceoff and played a lovely kicked pass to Erik Haula who hit the empty net from 150 feet out. It was 4-0 Devils who cruised to victory after that.
In the third, shots were a staggering 20-2 in favor of the Devils. NJ posted a 66.67 CF% and a 72.28 xGF% at five-on-five.
Wrap Up
Erik Haula had a massive night for the Devils. He led the way with two goals and an assist for three points. Dawson Mercer added a goal and an assist while four other Devils got on the scoresheet.
Akira Schmid was excellent in net again. He stopped all 23 shots he faced, turning aside 2.46 goals above expected. It was his first postseason shutout.
For the Rangers, Igor Shesterkin played well in the loss. He stopped 39 of 42 shots and denied the Devils 1.12 goals above expected.
For the game, shots were 43-23 NJ. The Devils had a 47.13 CF% and a 53.25 xGF% for the contest at five-on-five.
Game Notes
Timo Meier
Through five games, Meier is yet to find the scoresheet, but has played well. Game 5 was no different. Meier was third among Devils skaters with a 65.45 xGF% at five-on-five and led the way with a 71.43 CF%. The Devils had a 6-2 edge in high-danger chances with Meier on the ice.
Tack on the tremendous glove save Shesterkin made to rob Meier in the second and it is clear the goals will come eventually for Meier. The chances are there.
John Marino
The shutdown defenseman graded out the best among Devils’ defensemen at five-on-five in the shutout win. Marino posted a 63.73 xGF% while no other Devils’ defenseman was north of 56%. High-danger chances were also 6-1 with Marino on the ice.
All season, Marino has done a good job making the smart play at the blue line and being composed in the breakout. As the Devils have shifted to that play style since Game 3, Marino has thrived.
He is second to only Damon Severson among Devils defensemen with a 60.65 xGF% while maintaining a 17-6 edge in high-danger chances at five-on-five.
Special Teams
Special teams were once again a huge difference maker, and this was the most decisive win for the New Jersey specials.
On their own power plays, the Devils went 1-for-5, generating 1.45 expected goals and creating six high danger chances. One of those power plays was also an abbreviated look in the final minute of a four goal game where New Jersey did not exactly push for a fifth goal.
However, it was the penalty kill that starred. The Devils went a perfect 2-for-2 on the kill, adding a shorthanded goal of their own in the process. New Jersey limited the Rangers to just 0.21 expected goals in four minutes of power play time. New York did not create a high-danger chance. The Devils also did a terrific job of staying out of the box, only giving the Rangers those two chances with the man advantage.
What’s Next?
Game 6 is set for Saturday night at Madison Square Garden at 8:00 p.m. ET. ABC and ESPN+ will have the broadcast exclusively with no local MSG feeds.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.