Game summary
For the first time in this series, the Rangers and Devils needed overtime to decide the game. Igor Shesterkin and Akira Schmid both stood tall, with Schmid stopping 27th in regulation and Shesterkin stopping 22. The difference in this game was clearly Schmid, making some good saves early on as the Rangers looked to get an early powerplay. In the end, however, it was the Devils who scored the last goal in overtime, as the extra passes burned the guards throughout the game.
Rangers opened the scoring with a rare goal from Chris Kreider. Even rarer is that this was an actual shot, unlike his previous four deflection goals. The Devils regained the lead when Jack Hughes scored with the man advantage. The rest of the game was more or less even, with the Rangers doing a very good job closing the no-man’s-land and Reducing opportunities for quality vs. This has been the theme of the Blueshirts series so far.
This time, however, the Rangers were too confident, too cocky, after taking a 2-0 series lead. The extra pass made its way back into their game, and it burned them out. Now the Devils have returned to the series, and Monday is a must-see.
Rangers 1, Devils 0
Patrick Kane forced a spin at the blue line, which pushed Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider to a 2-on-1. Kreider elected to shoot and beat rookie Akira Schmid to open the scoring.
Rangers 1, Devils 1
After some questionable post-scrum calls, in which Timo Meier “fell” on Shesterkin’s leg and Shesterkin got the penalty kick, the Devils got one on the powerplay. Jack Hughes simply beat corner top side shortstop Igor Shesterkin. Hughes extended the penalties and then found space at the top of the circle.
Devils 2, Rangers 1
The Rangers played with fire all the game once it got too nice, and it’s been biting them since the game went into overtime. Instead, they traded chances as the ice opened up, and the Devils got a rushing opportunity from Jesper Pratt’s Dougie Hamilton. Too many Rangers went to Pratt, and Hamilton was wide open.
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