Photo: Andrew MacLean
In a thrilling matchup at Prudential Center, the Devils delivered a symphony of pain to their bitter rivals, silencing the Rangers with a resounding 5-0 shutout on Monday, December 23rd. The intensity was palpable from the first drop of the puck, and the game quickly devolved into a spirited - and occasionally pugilistic affair. Jack Hughes was a force of nature, leading the charge with two goals and an assist. Jacob Markstrom was a wall in the net, securing back-to-back shutouts, turning aside the 12 shots he faced to record this dominant 5-0 shutout victory. This was an incredible win for New Jersey after a 3-0 shutout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Timo Meier, Stefan Noesen, and Dawson Mercer also scored to help the Devils collect the two points against New York. The Devils are back at it on Friday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Rangers head to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning in search of a win.
Devils Lineup:
Palat - Hughes - Bratt
Meier - Hischier - Noesen
Cotter - Haula - Mercer
Tatar - Dowling - Bastian
Dillon - Hamilton
Siegenthaler - Kovacevic
Hughes - Pesce
Markstrom
Allen
Rangers Lineup:
Panarin - Trocheck - Lafreniere
Berard - Zibanejad - Smith
Cuylle - Chytil - Brodzinski
Edstrom - Carrick - Vesey
Lindgren - Fox
Jones - Schneider
Vaakanainen - Borgen
Quick
Shesterkin
Jack Hughes struck the first goal of the game early into the opening frame at 15:31 for his 14th goal of the season when he shot from the left face-off circle after the Rangers had taken the puck out of their zone, only for it to be sent right back in, and Jesper Bratt got ahold of the puck, passing it off to Hughes, who was driving into New York's zone and scored on a wrist shot.
Early into the second period, Timo Meier picked up his 13th of the season to make it a 2-0 lead for New Jersey at 15:19 on the power play. Dawson Mercer, who originally passed the puck to Paul Cotter, got the puck back from Cotter, lost it again, and eventually got it back to feed Meier from the opposite side. Timo found the back of the net with a snap shot from the right circle. Jack Hughes struck again for his 15th goal of the season, as well as his second of the game, to make it 3-0 with 8:47 on the clock when he took a pass from Luke Hughes, and Jack snapped a shot inside the left post after skating low in the left circle.
Stefan Noesen extended the Devils' lead to 4-0 at 12:00 for his 16th of the season after finishing a tic-tac-toe passing play with Timo Meier and Nico Hischier. Meier had turned in low in the right circle after racing into the Rangers' zone with the puck, found Hischier, and sent the puck to him, who then one-touched to Noesen at the left post. With 7:25 left in the third frame, Dawson Mercer whacked at the puck and found the back of the net for a power-play goal from the slot on a waist-high deflection after being fed by Jack Hughes for the 5-0 final.
Jack Hughes on the rivalry, coming into this game/energy, his thoughts on the penalty kill, and the importance of staying loose as a group: "I've had a couple of good games against these guys, but no, it's a great rivalry and I love playing in it. So, whether it's here or at MSG, I think you can always get up a little more for these games. Heading into Christmas break, we wanted to make a statement and make a great game," - "I think they came out wanting to start fast - I think they started fast last night against Carolina, too - so, we matched that energy early, and we had Dillon and Cotter step up big time. Our energy, our group coming into the game was at a high level, and that's kind of why we won the game with our start. - It's just one of those nights where pucks are probably falling in the right spot for us. I don't want to get too greedy, it's only been like 10 games or so on the PK, but we're going good right now. I'm watching Bratter and learning, and every team we play has really good players, so you got to be really aware, and I think I've been engaged in that. I have people helping me and just adding another element to my game. ...I think every year we've had a great group in the locker room. Last year we had fun, but you're losing so much that it doesn't make it as fun. This year we have another good group and we're winning, and that just makes it more enjoyable coming to the rink. I think we really believe in our group, and it allows us to come to the rink and enjoy it."
Notes:
- Jack Hughes had a three-point night, picking up a pair of goals and an assist. ...Hughes has a total of 26 points (15 goals) in 22 games against the Rangers, which is the most against New York among all NHL skaters since he entered the League in 2019-20.
- Both Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes recorded a pair of assists, and both Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer picked up a goal and an assist. ...Bratt's pair of assists had given him a total of 31 assists in 37 games this season, which is the sixth-fewest games to 30 assists by a Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts player in a season.
- Jacob Markstrom recorded his second-straight shutout, as well as the third of the season to extend his point streak to nine games. This has been the first shutout against the Rangers by the Devils since a 4-0 victory on October 19th, 2013 when Cory Schneider made a total of 22 saves for New Jersey. ...Markstrom is the second NJ goaltender to record consecutive shutouts in his first season with the Devils, following Mackenzie Blackwood (2018-19).
- The Devils are 5-1-0 in their past six games, and the Rangers are 4-13-0 in their past 17 games.
- Jonathan Quick made 24 saves for New York.
- The Rangers are 0-2-0 and have been outscored 10-1 in two games this season against the Devils.
- New Jersey went 3-for-4 on the power play, and New York was 0-for-4 with only three shots on goal with the man-advantage.
- Chris Kreider had been a healthy scratch... Jonny Brodzinski took his place in the lineup.
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