The Rangers officially kicked off the real season last night, and showed rust that accumulates after three games in two weeks. They had a good amount of chances, but Mackenzie Blackwood made some good saves and the Rangers also missed some good chances. On the bright side, they generated sustained offense at even strength. Even it’s just one game, that’s a positive.
Jack Hughes got a point on the Devils’ third goal, the eventual game winner that went off Miles Wood’s pants. So the Rangers gave the Devils their first win and Hughes his first point. Listen, both were going to happen, it’s just rough that it had to happen against the Rangers. Such is life in a rebuild.
Rangers 1, Devils 0
DeAngelo scores his first of the season and gives the #NYR a 1-0 lead pic.twitter.com/Bu0i1FKwSN
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 17, 2019
Lias Andersson with the nice takeaway low to get the puck away from a pair of Devils, and then the play eventually worked itself up to Brady Skjei at the point. He put the shot on net, and with Andersson knocking Will Butcher off balance, Tony DeAngelo tucked it home for the 1-0 lead.
Devils 1, Rangers 1
Blake Coleman ties the game 1-1 #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/3tUuiNwvAJ
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 17, 2019
This is something you want Alex Georgiev to stop. Adam Fox with the giveaway on this one.
Devils 2, Rangers 1
The New Jersey Devils have scored their first power play goal of the year, and they've taken a 2-1 lead over the Rangers #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/zgUekuZIGU
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 18, 2019
Marc Staal gonna Marc Staal. Kyle Palmieri goes bar down with tons of room over Georgiev’s shoulder.
Devils 3, Rangers 1
Devils score to take a 3-1 lead, looks like Jack Hughes may have gotten his first NHL point with an assist… #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/4qTP7M6tvu
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 18, 2019
Hockey happens sometimes. The Matt Tennyson shot gets deflected by Hughes, and it looks like Georgiev is going to stop it, but then it goes off Wood’s pants and in.
Devils 3, Rangers 2
Fast scores his first of the season to make it a one-goal game #NYR pic.twitter.com/VsHRfz828Q
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 18, 2019
Four Devils looking at the puck, no one realizes Jesper Fast is there.
Devils 4, Rangers 2
Andersson blocks a Subban shot and Panarin's stick breaks while trying to clear… Gusev's goal gives the #NJDevils a 4-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/P3NDR7UUL7
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 18, 2019
This is just bad luck. Georgiec made a good stop on PK Subban, but then Artemi Panarin’s stick broke on the clear, giving Nikita Gusev a path to the net and go five-hole on Georgiev.
Devils 5, Rangers 2
Subban empty netter.
Shot Heatmap
So the Rangers actually controlled the offensive flow for a good portion of the game, which is why the Devils don’t have much going on with their shot locations. Interesting to see that area at the top of the right circle is the highest density of shots though. Rob brought up a good point that the Blueshirts’ defensive woes might be because the offensive depth can’t control the play or sustain offense. They did in this one, just couldn’t finish.
Expected Goals
The Rangers did a good job controlled offensive flow in this one. The Devils aren’t overly good, but the Blueshirts had more sustained pressure in this one. Because of more sustained pressure, they were able to actually limit the number of chances against. There were some high quality chances against, which we should continue to expect, but at least it wasn’t in such large volume this game.
The Rangers are back at it tomorrow night in DC against the Caps. They go from three games in two weeks to three games in four nights. The season has officially started.
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