Saturday, the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 4-0 on home ice. The team scored two goals in quick succession during the second period and didn’t look back. They improved to 41-29-7 on the season.
Recap
Period One
The Devils came out hot, dominating the Rangers in every aspect. They just couldn’t put the puck past Igor Shesterkin who stood tall on a multitude of chances in the first period. The Rangers came on a little more towards the end of the frame, but couldn’t beat Jacob Markstrom and so it remained 0-0 after one.
Period Two
After the Rangers started the second period on the front foot, the Devils were able to flip the momentum part way through. A power play goal on a one-time blast four seconds into the man advantage by Timo Meier made it 1-0. Shortly after, the Rangers would go on the power play, but it wouldn’t matter. Brendan Dillon sprung Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt on a two-on-one where Bratt tapped home a perfect pass from Hischier.
The Devils would have their share of chances in the remaining minutes of the period, but Shesterkin stopped everything else that came his way. The Devils ended the second frame up 2-0.
Period Three
Up two in the third period, the Devils were able to lock things down. The Rangers got shots, but nothing of quality. Eventually, the Devils were able to beat Shesterkin one more time, as Timo Meier buried a puck on a perfect pass from Seamus Casey for his second of the game.
Just a minute and change later, Nico Hischier smacked the puck into an empty net to put the icing on the cake of a 4-0 win. The Devils would keep the Rangers scoreless once again at the Prudential Center this season.
Game Notes
Clinching Scenarios
With this win the Devils get one step closer to officially clinching a playoff spot. Here’s what needs to happen: Columbus’s maximum point total is 91, the Rangers is 91, and the Islanders is 90. With the Devils currently at 89 points, and already having the confirmed tiebreaker against the Islanders and Blue Jackets, they could clinch as early as Tuesday night. However, they need a couple of out of town results to go their way.
The first of which already happened. The Blue Jackets lost to Toronto, decreasing their maximum point total to the above mentioned 91. Secondly, the Devils need the Rangers to lose in any fashion to the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday night on the road, which would bring their maximum amount of points down to either 89 or 90.
If both of those results go their way, the Devils can clinch a playoff spot with a win in any fashion on Tuesday against Boston. If the Rangers lose in regulation, the Devils can clinch with just a point on Tuesday. They would clinch in either scenario because of being equal to or above the maximum amount of points that Columbus and the Islanders can get with the tiebreaker against both teams and having more points than the maximum the Rangers can get to. Got it? Great!
Markstrom’s Best Game Since His Injury
Jacob Markstrom had by far his best game since returning from a knee injury over a month ago. The Swedish netminder picked up his first shutout in that time, collecting 3.66 goals saved above expected (GSAx) in the process. It most likely concludes his season against the Rangers (a playoff matchup is still possible), and if it does, what a four game stretch he had against the Devils’ biggest rival.
In the Devils four matchups against the Rangers this season, all started in net by Markstrom, the now 35 year old goalie had a 3-0-1 record with a .963 save percentage (sv%) and 10.56 GSAx. He allowed four goals in those four games including two shutouts on home ice. Markstrom in the process became the first Devils goalie to shut out the Rangers twice in a season since Marty Brodeur in 2003-04.
What’s Next
The Devils are back in action on Tuesday as they welcome in a struggling Boston Bruins team at 7:00 pm ET.