First Period:
- Erik Haula (1) (Power Play) Assists: Michael McLeod (1), Ondrej Palat (1)
Second Period:
- Vladimir Tarasenko (2) Assists: Adam Fox (5), Ryan Lindgren (1)
- Chris Kreider (3) (Power Play) Assists: Patrick Kane (2), Mika Zibanejad (1)
- Chris Kreider (4) (Power Play) Assists: Patrick Kane (3), Adam Fox (6)
Third Period:
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- Patrick Kane (1) Unassisted
- Kaapo Kakko (1) Assists: Filip Chytil (2), Niko Mikkola (1)
Stats:
- I think that this was the most impressive win of the season for the Rangers. They were good overall in Game 1, but this was another level and they didn’t have to rely on Igor Shesterkin at al. They defended the Devils in the best way possible: by having the puck. The Rangers had the puck for most of this game and when they didn’t they were stout defensively, physical and got the save when it was needed.
- This game showed that the Rangers have total buy in of what they need to do to win. They managed the puck really well, cycled it, blocked shots, sent the puck in deep when the play wasn’t there and totally seemed to rattle the Devils. The Rangers are doing everything they need to do defensively , getting some chances at 5-on-5 and then just killing on the PP.
- The confidence that the Rangers top PP unit is playing with is amazing to see. It feels like five minutes ago that those five players looked totally out of sync and now there is so much flow, so much movement, so many different options and a real comfort and belief that they are going to score every time. I wasn’t sure how things would work without Mika Zibanejad in his spot, but things are working just fine with Chris Kreider dominating in front of the net.
- We were waiting for it, and I had tempered my expectations, but we saw the Patrick Kane tonight. You could tell early on that he looked better and then his calmness and confidence with the puck, especially on the PP, really shone through. That doesn’t even take into account the great play he made to force the turnover and then that phenomenal move to score. He could have fed it across for Chris Kreider to get a Hat Trick, but it was more meaningful for Kane to get that goal. I’m not sure how his body/hip will hold up during the playoffs, but he showed tonight how impactful he can be.
- Then there is Vladimir Tarasenko, who has shown through the first two games why the Rangers chose to trade for him as their big deadline piece. They chose Tarasenko over Kane, and then Kane forced his way to the Rangers, and he showed with that one shot that tied the game why. He’s been a great fit.
- It was great to see Kaapo Kakko get rewarded for all the puck possession, battles he wins and physicality. He got squeezed off the PP because of all the deadline moves, but he got a chance tonight and buried that goal. That line continues to play well in the offensive zone.
- From top to bottom the Rangers had everyone going tonight, everyone was better than in Game 1 and it was just a complete performance. The way that they limited the Devils offensively was truly remarkable. They neutralized a lot of Devils speed and Jack Hughes was a fraction of the factor that he was in Game 1.
- You can see how frustrated the Devils are. Igor Shesterkin dominated them in Game 1 and the Rangers as a unit smothered them tonight. They aren’t used to being shut down and it is showing. I mean, tonight looked nothing like any of the regular season games or even large stretches of Game 1, and because of that New Jersey is left scratching their head.
- Through two games the Rangers are showing how good they can be. There isn’t a ton better that they can do for Game 3, they just need to bring this same game home to MSG on Saturday. They can’t start bringing out brooms and getting ahead of themselves, but the Rangers have been very impressive so far.