Rangers' lead fizzles away as Devils win Game 4 to even series
This first-round playoff series between the Rangers and Devils is now a blank slate.
The 10 goals the Rangers scored between Games 1 and 2? Meaningless.
The feel-good momentum built from a two-game series lead? Gone.
The Devils saw to that when they marched into Madison Square Garden and grinded out two wins, including the 3-1 win over the Rangers Monday night, to reset this series at two games apiece as it heads back to their territory in Newark for Game 5 on Thursday.
“We didn’t show up,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said bluntly. “We didn’t play hard enough. We didn’t compete hard enough. All we did was yap at the linesmen for getting thrown out of the faceoffs.”
For 40 minutes, the Blueshirts skated with zero urgency, zero regard for the possibility of losing their grip on this series and as a result, produced zero goals to the Devils’ one.
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin watches as a goal is scored by Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler during the third period of Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It wasn’t until the third period that even a fraction of the Rangers who dominated in the first two games showed up.
Vincent Trocheck knotted the game at one-all less than two minutes into the final frame and pumped some life into the Garden, which has had a lot more fun hosting the Knicks this past week than the Rangers.
Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler then took a cross-ice feed from Nico Hischier and sniped it past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin for the go-ahead goal before Ondrej Palat scored into an empty net later in the final frame.
The Devils’ Ryan Graves, left, and Jesper Bratt, front right, celebrate with Ondrej Palat, center, after Palat scored an empty-net goal. AP
From feeling confident in themselves and their game to Gallant making mid-game line changes to try and wake his team up, the Rangers have gotten far away from what made them so dominant at the start of the series.
“Not good enough,” Gallant said of the Rangers’ effort. “Not even close to good enough.”
The only answer the Rangers had for Jack Hughes came from the stands.
Every time Hughes touched the puck, Rangers fans booed the Devils’ star center relentlessly.
That sure happened a lot since Hughes had the puck a lot.
It did not seem to faze him.
Devils center Nico Hischier and Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin battle for the puck during Game 4 on Monday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Here’s a player who has a mere 20 career games against the Rangers, including the four in this year’s playoffs, and he’s already drawn the ire of Madison Square Garden without even a dirty play to blame.
His only offense?
Taking it to the Rangers and spearheading the Devils’ series comeback.
Hughes opened the scoring for the Devils with his third goal of the series in the first period before finishing with five shots on net.
He has looked stronger and stronger with the puck as Round 1 has trudged on.
While the Devils’ core has heated up, the Rangers have cooled down.
The power play, which played a major role in the Blueshirts’ ability to build a 2-0 series lead, has also gone dormant.
Devils goaltender Akira Schmid defends the net as New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider during Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After going 4-for-7 to begin the first round, it is now on an 0-for-11 skid dating back to Game 2.
It didn’t generate much Monday night, failing to score on three opportunities or generate any momentum throughout the game.
The Rangers are back at square one.
The Devils have a second chance.
Now the first to two wins advances.
“We just got to get back to playing the way we played I think all year,” Mika Zibanejad said. “We have to trust ourselves. The way we want to play, I don’t think we should change any of that. Maybe easier said than done, but just reset. It’s a best out of three now. Just got to get ready.”
Source: New York Post
