Devils fans mock Rangers' goal song after dominant Game 7 win
You might want to cover your ears, Rangers fans.
Shortly after the Devils knocked the Rangers out of the 2023 NHL playoffs with a dominant 4-0 win in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series, hordes of fans in black and red made their way out of the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday to pour even more salt in the wound, courtesy of a familiar tune.
In a video circulating on social media, Devils fans can be heard mimicking “Slapshot,” which is the Rangers’ iconic goal song.
New Jersey Devils fans are seen celebrating after defeating the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on May 1, 2023. Twitter
It was all Devils on Monday at the Rock, where New Jersey blanked its Hudson River rival 4-0 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes will host the Devils in the first two games of their second-round series beginning Wednesday.
As for the Rangers, they’ll be watching the rest of the playoffs from home.
Members of the New Jersey Devils celebrate after a goal against the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on May 1, 2023. Bill Kostroun for NY Post
The Blueshirts — who entered the postseason with Stanley Cup aspirations after acquiring star forwards Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko before the NHL trade deadline — blew a 2-0 series lead to their Hudson River rivals.
Despite showing glimpses of hope in Saturday’s Game 6 win, the Devils outplayed the Rangers from start to finish in Monday’s series-clincher.
“Talent doesn’t mean a thing,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said after the loss. “It’s great to have talent, but you’ve got to play together and work together. Obviously, the four games that we lost, we had two goals. That’s the bottom line. You’re not going to win if you get two goals in four games.
The New York Rangers were eliminated from postseason contention after a Game 7 loss to the New Jersey Devils on May 1, 2023. Bill Kostroun for NY Post
“I love to have talent, but you love to have work ethic and more forecheck and stuff like that. We just didn’t get it done.”
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin helped keep the Rangers alive for much of the series, stopping 189 out of 203 shots throughout the contests.
Adam Fox expressed remorse for Shesterkin following Monday’s defeat.
Igor Shesterkin (31) of the New York Rangers shakes hands with New Jersey Devils goaltender Akira Schmid on May 1, 2023. Bill Kostroun for NY Post
“He battled all series for us. Feel bad to not be able to get some goals for him. Credit to their goalie, too, he played well, but obviously feel bad for our goalie there for the way he battled,” the Rangers defenseman said.
“Just kind of feel like we let him down.”
Shesterkin, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner, and the Rangers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6.
Source: New York Post
