The rivalry is renewed. Tensions flare in the New York Rangers’ 4-0 dominance over the New Jersey Devils.
- New York Rangers 4 (13-9-3, 29 pts)
- New Jersey Devils 0 (9-12-4, 22 pts)
- NHL, Final, Box Score
- Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
For one team, it was magnificent. For the other team, it was ugly. For the fans, it was a rivalry renewed.
Tensions flared and attitudes heightened all afternoon long at the Prudential Center, forcing veteran fans to remember simpler, more aggressive times (the 1990s).
The tipping point in the New York Rangers‘ 4-0 dominance over the New Jersey Devils came when Chris Kreider leveled defenseman Matt Tennyson into the boards in the third period.
Here's the Rangers-Devils rivalry that I grew up on in the 90s. Chris Kreider gets the party started, Wayne Simmonds and P.K. Subban in the mix.
And in the blink of an eye, the Rangers tally another shorty. Jesper Fast. 3-0. #PlayLikeANewYorker #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/lei4F17Xvo
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) November 30, 2019
Tennyson absolutely turns at the last moment. Nonetheless, Kreider gets five on this one and it's great watching the Rangers-Devils at this level. #PlayLikeANewYorker pic.twitter.com/upCcOyBiE2
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) November 30, 2019
Kreider picked up a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the play, but his team didn’t suffer.
Shortly after a Brendan Lemieux and Mika Zibanejad combo tallied a short-handed goal to make it a two-goal contest, Jesper Fast did the same.
The New York Rangers get it done again while shorthanded. Lemieux to Zibanejad and they're now tied for the NHL lead with shorties. #PlayLikeANewYorker pic.twitter.com/qZHv0YkIqa
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) November 30, 2019
Jesper: Wait, let me try. pic.twitter.com/AbQK4aszER
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 30, 2019
The game on the scoreboard undoubtedly came down to special teams. Not only did the Rangers blank the Devils’ power-play (0-for-8), but they scored the game’s first goal with the man-advantage.
Young Kaapo Kakko drew many Devils to him prior to finding Adam Fox with a slick pass.
What a feed by Kaapo Kakko. Adam Fox cashes in, 1-0 Rangers at The Rock. #PlayLikeANewYorker pic.twitter.com/ETYeJ3j7bm
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) November 30, 2019
Brady Skjei picked up the empty-netter to cap the tremendous Rangers’ day.
Alexandar Georgiev received the start, a day after Henrik Lundqvist fell to the Boston Bruins in overtime, and earned No. 1 star honors with the shutout. He made 33 saves in total.
MacKenzie Blackwood could muster just 19 saves on 22 New York shots.
In total, the Rangers took 34 penalty minutes to the Devils’ 13. The two short-handed goals now place the Blueshirts first in the NHL in that category with six.
This one boiled down to the Rangers shooting themselves in the foot only to overcome those mistakes, time and again.
Next up for the Rangers will be the Vegas Golden Knights Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The Devils will take on the Sabres in Buffalo on the same night.
