Nico Daws. (photo via the NJ Devils)

The New Jersey Devils (2-0-1) suffered their first loss of the preseason Thursday night. For the second game in a row they’ve had the pleasure of taking on the New York Rangers and this time it resulted in a loss. In a lineup that featured many players that likely will begin the season with the Utica Comets (AHL), they played a Rangers squad, also featuring a lot of AHL-level players, evenly.

Game Recap

First Period

Both teams were searching for the first goal of the game for the first half of the period. It was a very low volume period to start, but it was the Devils who drew first blood.

A penalty taken by the Rangers sent the Devils on the first power play of the game and they cashed in. After winning the ensuing draw, the Devils puck cycling went to work. A pass sent back to the point found the stick of defenseman Seamus Casey. He fired a shot towards the net that was deflected by Stefan Noesen standing right in front of the goal crease.

Not very much happened after that goal, in what turned out to be a low event period of hockey. The Devils took a 1-0 lead into the second period. 

The Rangers took it to the Devils during five-on-five play to open the game. They held the edge in shot attempts (19-9), but only outshot the Devils 4-3. Not very much made it on net. The Rangers offense dominated the scoring chances (11-3), and controlled the high-danger areas of the ice (5-1). 

Second Period

The Devils put forth a better pace in the second period and a stronger effort at five-on-five play. Much like the first period, the Devils lit the lamp first and extended their lead.

After winning a puck battle along the boards behind the Rangers goal, Matyas Melovsky fed a pass to Ethan Edwards who ripped a shot off the post and into the net. The period was played evenly with good back and forth pace. For the second period in a row the Devils took a lead into the next period. 

When it came to the shot attempts share, it was dead even at 12-12 during five-on-five play. The Rangers held a slight edge in shots on goal and they were still able to muster up better scoring chances. The expected goals share was much closer this period than the last period (0.67-0.52), in favor of the Rangers. Daws himself through two periods had 1.89 goals saved above expected. 

Third Period

This is where things unraveled for the Devils as the Rangers staged a furious comeback. The Rangers scored three goals in a row and really got after goaltender Nico Daws.

After those three goals, the Devils finally responded and in the late stages of the period with their goaltender pulled. After winning the puck battle along the boards, Jesper Boqvist corralled the loose puck and fed it over to Amadeus Lombardi. He glided down the middle and slid the puck five hole to send this game to overtime. 

Overtime/Shootout

The Devils would lose this game in the shootout and the Rangers skate off with a 4-3 victory. Lenni Hameenaho, Topias Vilen, and Lombardi were held scoreless for New Jersey.

Game Notes 

• Matyas Melovsky was a key factor in this game. He led the Devils in Corsi-for percentage (CF%) at 65.38. Also, he finished with an expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) of 58.18. The line of him, Ben Steeves, and Hameenaho was the best line for the Devils in this game. 

• Nico Daws was so-so. He finished with -0.20 goals saved above expected and an .850 save percentage.

What’s Next? 

The Devils preseason play concludes as they head to Long Island to take on the New York Islanders Saturday night.