The Rangers took the second of two from the Devils today with another strong forechecking showing, completing the sweep of the mini-series. This game was about the Rangers forcing turnovers in the offensive zone and at the blue line. Two of those turnovers led to goals for the Rangers. While the Devils controlled the second and third periods, it was timely turnovers that eventually won it for the Rangers.

Another key piece was that the Rangers came out of the gate flying in this one. They really controlled the quality throughout the first and had a tremendous defensive effort. The Devils actually got very few quality chances, relying on shots from the outside. I think PK Subban attempted 30 or so shots from the blue line, give or take.

Just a solid defensive effort here, and a return of form for the Rangers. This is what you want to see.

Rangers 1, Devils 0 – Adam Fox is good

End to end rush by Adam Fox for the powerplay goal. This was just beautiful. The Devils gave him way too much room.

Rangers 2, Devils 0 – Turnover and a goal

Kaapo Kakko forced the Devils into a turnover in a dangerous area here. He was in close and had his stick in the right spot. Just a great read here. The deflected puck went right to Chris Kreider, who sent a one-timed pass down low to Ryan Strome. Strome roofed it.

Rangers 2, Devils 1 – Georgiev might want this back

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1368269467281747970

The Devils won a puck battle along the boards, and PK Subban ripped it from the point over Georgiev’s blocker. Georgiev probably wants this back.

Rangers 2, Devils 2 – Missed coverages

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1368270308315193355

Fox went for the aggressive play at the blue line but missed. Julien Gauthier was the forward covering, but both he and Ryan Lindgren went to the puck. That opened Mikhail Maltsev down the slot, who had a step on Chytil.

Rangers 3, Devils 2 – Catching flat footed Devils

The Devils keep getting caught flat footed in the neutral zone, and this time it was ___ who found Chytil behind two Devils for the 2-on-1 rush with Kevin Rooney. What a pass from Chytil over Subban’s stick, and Blackwood had no chance.

Rangers 4, Devils 2 – Libor

K’Andre Miller started this with a tremendous forecheck behind the net. He got the puck under Rangers control, and it eventually wound up at the point for a shot by Libor Hajek. Alexis Lafreniere with the screen and Hajek had his first of the year.

Rangers 5, Devils 2 – Another turnover and another goal

Gauthier forced the Devils into a turnover at their own blue line. He then took the puck deep and threw it in front, where Chytil finished. The Rangers were pressuring the Devils at their blue line all game. This was the second that wound up in the Devils’ net. This one really sealed the sweep for the Rangers over the Devils.

Rangers 5, Devils 3 – A softie

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1368298259358359557

Georgiev should’ve had this one. No breakdown here. Soft goals happen.

Rangers 6, Devils 3 – Strome empty netter

This was the result of another turnover, this time forced by Ryan Lindgren.

Shot Heatmap – Nothing of quality for the Devils

This is the type of defensive effort you want to see from the Rangers. After a few games in a row of getting away from it, they clamped down big today.

Skater Results – Great quality control

This is great quality control by the Rangers here. The Devils got a good amount of attempts, but none were any good. Meanwhile, the Rangers capitalized on their forecheck and turnovers, generating high quality chances and goals. This is a great effort.

This is now three in a row for the Rangers, with the best of them being today’s effort. Of course it isn’t all good, as we need to see what happened with Mika Zibanejad at the end of the game. The Rangers have another game tomorrow night, so while a back-to-back, it’s not a true back-to-back. Also would be nice to see Georgiev rebound tomorrow as well. But for now, let’s enjoy that the Rangers had a sweep of this mini-series against the Devils.

Charts from NaturalStatTrick and Evolving-Hockey.

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