First Period:

• Mika Zibanejad (26) Assists: Chris Kreider (16), Alexis Lafreniere (9)
• Adam Fox (10) Assists: Andrew Copp (23), Mika Zibanejad (39)

Second Period:

• Tomas Tatar (12) Assists: Ryan Graves (20), Jesper Bratt (40)
• P.K. Subban (5) Assists: Andreas Johnsson (19), Ty Smith (13)
• Dawson Mercer (16) Assists: Ryan Graves (21)
• Tomas Tatar (13) Assists: Damon Severson (26), Jesper Bratt (41)
• Yegor Sharangovich (16) Assists: Dougie Hamilton (17), Nico Hischier (26)

Third Period:

• Ryan Strome (15) Assists: Ryan Lindgren (8), Artemi Panarin (57)
• Jack Hughes (20) (Power Play) Assists: Nico Hischier (27)
• Jack Hughes (21) Assists: Yegor Sharangovich (19), P.K. Subban (16)
• Chris Kreider (42) (Power Play) Assists: Adam Fox (54), Andrew Copp (24)

Stats:

Adam Rotter:

• This was one of those games where the Rangers played as if the game was going to be easy all night long. They had the lead early and then the Devils started to raise their game in the second and everything about the Rangers collapsed. They were careless with the puck, stopped playing defense, and barely saw the offensive zone. We’ve seen this sporadically during the season, where teams score quickly in bunches after the Rangers seem to take it easy and become careless, but not to this level and not against this type of opponent.
• They played the second period like they’d be able to cruise to a win while probably still tired from the weekend and looking to save as much energy as possible ahead of Friday’s clash with Pittsburgh. They responded with a good start to the third and then collapsed again midway through the third and just let the Devils keep piling on.
• With the new guys, Tyler Motte showed off his speed and his style of game, Andrew Copp was moved up to the first line by the third period and Justin Braun does not seem, at least through one game, like he will stabilize the third pair. I’d like to see them give him a chance with Braden Schneider, but who knows how either will really perform on their off side.
• With the way this season has gone, I was pretty sure that they would tie it 5-5 at some point in the third. They got to 5-3 and if Chris Kreider would have shot on that 2 on 1 it would have been 5-4 instead of Jack Hughes making it 6-3 10 seconds later. Ultimately they got what they deserved tonight and probably a little extra after getting blown out in Carolina, but winning.
• It is only one game and Friday against the Penguins is the one that everyone has had circled, but you can’t play a final 40 minutes like they did at this time of the year and against an opponent that is fast, skilled and talent, but that they are, in general, much better than. A lot of the issues that have plagued them this year were exacerbated tonight and they didn’t get the saves to bail them out. They passed their test on Saturday against Tampa, passed it on a technicality on Sunday and then skipped tonight before Friday’s test. If they go out and beat the Penguins tonight and next Tuesday then tonight doesn’t really matter. You want to win every game and get as many points as possible, but Friday is a playoff preview. The two points are the same no matter who the opponent is, but the game on Friday will be another time for this team to show how good they are or how well they will match up when the playoffs come.