The New Jersey Devils won their first game of the season by defeating the New York Rangers, 5-2. Rookie Jack Hughes recorded his first NHL point (an assist ) in the win.
New York Rangers: 2
Goals: DeAngelo (1) Fast (1)
New Jersey Devils: 5
Goals: Coleman (3) Palmieri (3) PPG, Wood (1), Gusev (3) Subban (1)
NHL Final: Box Score
Venue: The Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
The New York Rangers–New Jersey Devils Hudson River Rivalry had all of the things you would expect: pretty goal-scoring, hard-hitting and a feisty edge that represents any hockey rivalry.
In the end, the Devils defeated the Rangers 5-2 thanks to a second-period barrage of goals New York just couldn’t match.
Anthony DeAngelo got the Rangers on the board at the 6:02 mark of the first period with his first of the year off a scramble in front of Devils goalie MacKenzie Blackwood. DeAngelo came in from behind the Devils net and was able to skate out to the front to bang in the loose puck. Pavel Buchnevich and Brady Skjei picked up the helpers.
The Rangers strike early, Tony DeAngelo, after killing an early Devils power-play.
Georgiev looks sharp early. #NYR pic.twitter.com/WdmjN4HMKK
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) October 17, 2019
New Jersey tied it up on a goal Alexandar Georgiev wants back.
Blake Coleman broke in on the Rangers goalies right side, taking a wrist shot that hit Georgiev in the mask, the puck then dropped straight down and hit between his legs finding its way behind the Rangers goalie to tie the game at 1-1. Travis Zajac and Matt Tennyson assisted on the goal.
Georgiev gifts Blake Coleman and the Devils this one. Off the mask and through the 5-hole. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/yk7lbCIFSL
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) October 17, 2019
The first period ended with the same score. The shots on goal for the period were 13-10 in favor of the home team.
In the first period, Kaapo Kakko has just 3:32 minutes of ice time with no shots on goal. Devils rookie Jack Hughes had 5:24 of ice time in the opening stanza with one SOG.
The Rangers found themselves down a man early into the second period as Brady Skjei was called for tripping. The Devils didn’t waste any time as they scored their first power-play goal of the year five seconds into the man advantage.
Kyle Palmieri scored an unassisted goal over the shoulder of Georgiev and the Devils had their first lead of the game, 2-1.
Taylor Hall ran at Adam Fox, hitting him in the head at 13:11 of the period. Skjei stood up for him, going after Hall.
Another look at the Hall hit on Fox #NYR #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/5aFBdJhXm0
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 18, 2019
The Rangers did get a two-minute power play as Hall was called for roughing but were not able to capitalize.
The Devils scored their third goal of the game when Matt Tennyson flipped a shot from the blue line that was deflected twice on the way past Georgiev. Miles Wood wound up with the goal and Hughes recorded his first NHL point as he was awarded the secondary assist on the goal which extended the Devils lead to 3-1.
The second intermission ended with the Devils up by two. The Rangers outshot New Jersey 15-9 in the second period.
The Devils began the third period already allowing 12 third-period goals in their first six games.
Make that 13, as Jesper Fast scored 2:22 into the third period to cut the Devils lead to 3-2. Ryan Strome and Brendan Smith had the helpers.
The Devils got a huge break when Artemi Panarin went to clear the puck and his stick broke, it was picked up by Nikita Gusev and he made New York pay as he scored his third of the season opened to give Devils a two-goal lead 4-2.
Despite a late Devils penalty and the Rangers pulling Georgiev, the Blueshirts dropped their second consecutive game 5-2 to the Devils following an empty-net goal by P.K. Subban, his first goal as a Devil.
The Rangers will be back on the ice tomorrow night as the visit Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to make his third start of the season (1-1).
