How do the Rangers match up against the Devils?
Mar 7, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) and New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) battle for position during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

After the Rangers showed us both ends of the spectrum, they gave us the middle ground. There was some good, there was some bad, but Jack Hughes’ three points helped the Devils top the Rangers. The process was pretty good for the Rangers, who controlled the final two periods, but they made mistakes they couldn’t overcome. Mackenzie Blackwood stopping 47 of 50 shots also didn’t help.

A lot of social media ink was spilled on ice time. There are certainly a lot of questions in this one. The ice time distribution, specifically for Brett Howden and Jack Johnson, is certainly a concern. Ryan Strome, who has been bad to start the season, is also becoming a concern.

Also, Mika Zibanejad was hurt in this one. More to come on that.

Devils 1, Rangers 0 – Bad luck change

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1351683723226451971

The Rangers made a poorly timed defensive change here, which gave Miles Wood a lot of room to get the initial shot off. Adam Fox wound up getting cut off getting to the rebound. This left Travis Zajac alone to get the rebound. I say “alone” because, well, Jack Johnson.

Rangers 1, Devils 1 – Good luck bounce

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1351697658616946691

Chris Kreider on the powerplay. The initial shot by Artemi Panarin gets stopped, but Kreider’s backhand pass bounces off a leg and by Blackwood.

Devils 2, Rangers 1 – Screen?

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1351698576594903043

I think Alex Georgiev was screened on the initial shot, and Jack Hughes just beat everyone to the loose puck in the crease.

Devils 3, Rangers 1 – Hughes breakaway

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1351700746987827200

Hughes blocked Jacob Trouba’s shot from the point and was off to the races.

Devils 3, Rangers 2 – It’s a powerplay goal!

Fox completely looked off the entire Devils penalty kill on this one. He made a perfect pass to Mika Zibanejad low. Zibanejad whiffed on the shot, but had enough to get it over Blackwood.

Devils 4, Rangers 2 – Johnson’d

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1351705004604854274

A pair of cross ice passes, with the last one to the back door through Jack Johnson.

Devils 4, Rangers 3 – Crash the net

Pavel Buchnevich is very good at hockey. He split the defense here before getting the puck behind him to the slot. Phil Di Giuseppe got a whack, then Filip Chytil roofed it.

Skater Results

This game had a lot of pace to it, which is why we see a lot of guys in the bottom right corner of this chart. Overall, it wasn’t a bad game by the Rangers. Just had some bad luck.

Shot Heatmap

The Rangers did a good job after a slow start. They got the majority of the shot attempts and chances. There wasn’t much turtling by the Devils either in this. The Devils got their fair share of chances too, so the defensive effort could have been better.

The Rangers lost this one, it happens. They had decent process in this, and also identified some concerns to watch. The Rangers needed the two points here. Yes it’s early, but points against the Devils in a great division were needed.

Charts from Evolving-Hockey and Natural Stat Trick.

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