Let it begin (I am watching on streaming...so i may be up to two minutes behind LIVE play)
Preview:
New York needs a good game. Not that they have played BAD yet this season - the two losses to Winnipeg and Montreal, both teams playing very well right now. But this New Jersey team is definitely lower-tier. The Rangers should prove themselves stronger in every aspect of the game.
New Jersey played a as good a game against San Jose as possible. And it was closer than it should have been.
Pick: Rangers
Period One:
Corey Schneider stops play...i think there isn't much to point out as yet. If New Jersey can get cycle time, i would be unhappy.
Nice slip away by Brassard - who made that pass? Brassard couldn't get the shot up and too the post enough there. (ah Brass created all of that)
I like the Rangers controlling things so far. The Devils have created nothing as this point. The Rangers one nice chance. But zone control is good.
Dan Boyle - lets count how many time he loses it in the Rangers' zone.
Nice goal. Nice breakout transition on that! Lindberg's chip out of the zone was perfect. Nice finish by Stepan - i true finisher.
Interesting stat: Devils have not led at any point this season. 5th game. That is sad.
Man, i like this group for the Rangers - but right now, they need that unstoppable top line. I think that is all that separated them from the cup. (i need to remind myself, this is New Jersey we are playing)
Another great chance there. Turn-overs kill teams! Great play by Zuccs and nice shot by Stepan. Nash almost got the rebound.
13 to go in the first and New Jersey hasn't really even threatened an attempt.
Lee Stempniak, nice shot but he was pushed toward the outside, made it easier for Lundquist. Stempniak would have to place that perfectly.
Just noticed that the defense lines are jumbled today. I think i like it. But 50more minutes of this experiment.
(replay of the Nash rebound - ugly off the shaft, but Henrique's "save" was nice hand-eye.)
Dang, another nice Ranger set up. Following a chance by the Devils on a nice pass to the front of the net. Then the Devils come back down with a chance. Rangers did a great job of clearing that - but really the Devils out-skated their own team there - no rebound chance, but the rebound was "juicy"
I can't stand the idea of Goalies playing against each other - they don't. It is stupid.
(it's like QBs. Quarterbacks don't impact each other on the field - zero. They are not head-to-head.)
Rangers are getting guys in front of the net. Good for defenseman goals and rebounds and deflection.
Jordin Tootoo - this guy was a force for a few season with Nashville. - not a scoring force, although i think he did have at least one pretty good season scoring. (Nope, i was wrong - just a physical force at most)
New York Rangers 1 New Jersey Devils 0 less than 5 minutes to go in the first.
Gut on this - Rangers have nothing to worry about, but still need to get more goals. This kind of game you can lose accidentally.
Nice replay on Jesper Fast there - this kid has come along. He can be valuable.
End to end - but in a slow way. Rangers still mostly controlling it.
Oh crap! How did Cammalleri get so wide open there. Rangers cheating to the left side.Great chance but not special. He shot from far out.
Kevin Hayes is better for a big man than i thought when i first saw him last season. Nice little move at his blue line. Subtle things.
What. This is not a fight i would expect to see. How many fights did Palmieri have last season!? Klein? Impressive. Hate for Klein to be out five minutes though.
End of First
New York Rangers 1 New Jersey Devils 0
This is a really good Ranger period. However, this is the Rangers and once again, they are not finishing their best opportunities. They always make goalies look good.
NYR Star: Oscar Lindberg looked to have good jump for the Rangers in that first.
NJD Star: Corey Schneider is playing exactly sharp and stable as needed. He isn't the reason the Rangers aren't scoring but not letting something weak in is the most valuable thing a goalie can do.
Kevin Hayes is huge.(6'5" 227 - i ain't lying)
Second Period:
Lets see if the Rangers keep their way in this thing.
That Tlusty shot - yikes. Glad it wasn't on net - i think Lundquist mis-read it.
Oh wow. Hanson playing on the speakers Dooooo-wop.
There ya go. Tunrover. Lundquist unprotected. Goal New Jersey.
(this was my fear...outplay to almost domination but only get one goal in that first.)
Four minutes without Kevin Klein, Rangers not looking good at all.
(New Jersey is applying pressure, i don't think the push is necessarily related to Klein)
Come on Second Line. Nice!
Yandle trying to thread a needle.
Now New Jersey's turn. Ugh.
Dang. Hayes with an almost. Lots of space out there on both ends.
Not liking this flow. Rangers need to settle it back down. Not sure what the difference is. Is it New Jersey exploiting something or the Rangers not quite focused/committed on the little things.
Does Severson get a save for that? Of course not, that would take away from the shiny overrated goalies.
Nice jump for a two-on-one with Zuccs and ??? Zuccs shot it..high.
Not what i wanted out of a 3 on 2. But oh well...keep generating those!
New York kinda gettng their groove back. Nice shift. Some chances created there.
Man, McDonaugh! Almost got around those two Devils. Would have been sweet.
Almost again. If that pass from Zuccs for Nash had a little more MUSTARD on it...probably a goal. Nash needs a goal!
Dang, nice passing. Stalberg with a nice one...but right at the goalie, Schneider.
And again. Some really good chances but no shot off the ice. Easy saves.
New Jersey's best chance. Lundquist looked a little surprised by Cammelleri's shot. Nice play by Henrique there.
NOTE: On that chance by Hayes a minute ago. (around 13:32 of the period) If Schneider saved it - WHOA BIG SAVE! But the dman saving it, just a oh nice play.
Dude, these Devils shots are getting through and scaring me. Cause i am not sure Lundquist is seeing them until they are on him. A well placed shot is a goal.
Not sure I like that call. The puck went through there. You can play the puck and body.Just because neither player touched the puck doesn't mean it is interference. If Stalberg hadn't hit the Devils player, that player may have controlled it or touched it.
Now for a New Jersey powerplay. Come on Lundquist be on top of it. Come on penalty kill - no lead here, please.
So far, no chances and a good PK by the Rangers.
That was actually a fast period. End it with a goal, Rangers. A Ranger goal, please.
New Jersey gets the best chance in a while there. Lundquist played that perfectly though.
Way to end that on a freaking penalty. Open the third on the penalty kill. Well done Stoll.
End of Second
New York Rangers 1 New Jersey Devils 1
Not where i want it. But truly we should have gotten 3 in the first. Now the Rangers are in a spot where they have to control the third like they did the first. Shutdown in their own zone and good transition in the neutral zone.
Starting the period on the penalty kill could be devastating. The Rangers do score easy goals often...so being down one and needing two would suck.
Third Period:
Oh boy - down two men. Thank Kevin Klein.
Let's see how it goes. !:36 of a 5-on-3. Starting now. With a faceoff win...
So far...it is build-for-the-perfect-shot - Gelinas shot, Rangers clear.
Another Rangers clear - whew.
Well killed. Devils wasted a lot of time seeking perfection...
Another one of those times where stats don't tell the story - sorry Corsi people - 17 shots per team is not indicative of this game. As with the score - the Rangers have played a noticeably better game.
Whew, bad decision and pass by Hayes leads to a two-on-one opportunity for the Devils. A weak shot and good save - no goal. But still in the Ranger's zone.
Rangers have yet to control it in the offensive zone. Not playing badly...but they are making mistakes. Yandle with a bad pass.
Still no control in the offensive zone. Rangers are losing their edge in this game fortunately the Devils can't capitalize. A different Gionta right there, for instance, Brian instead of Stephen - and i think the Rangers are down 2 - 1 right. Fortunately THAT Gionta is old and in Buffalo.
Rangers are really playing flat now. Another Devils' shot. Not dangerous though.
Rangers almost have one there...traffic and sticks in the middle so they got nothing clean.
This period is skating by fast. Not a lot of action though.
Zuccs from Nash - a good chance.but shot right in the glove.
Not a lot going on but the Rangers are getting a little bit more control of things.
I am hoping a Ranger powerplay here. Jordin Tootoo playing that tough brand of hockey. Staal draws that penalty.
Powerplay.
Settled down by Yandle leads to a shot but Schneider holds it.
McDonaugh with a Terrible pass. Now Kreider makes a worse pass. Leads to a great chance by Stempniak.
So far this Powerplay is just inept.
Ends the powerplay on an offsides.
Tootoo came out of the penalty box on fire. Two good attempts. Rangers D looked lost.
Now another powerplay - Nash draw it on Stempniak.
Powerplay:
Some control so far. Some chances by the Hayes powerplay line.
Better powerplay this far, but still only some easy shots.
Stepan gets a good chance.
Then Boyle.
Nothing. Penalty killed.
This live-blogging must take a lot out of me - those two pieces of pizza weren't enough.
Dang. Kreider puts on a decent shot and the rebound fools Schneider off the wall.
But not enough.. Rangers can't capitalize on it.
New York Rangers 1 New Jersey Devils 1 (about 2:30 to go in the third)
Man some good effort in the Devils' zone by Zuccs and Stepan and Nash.
Another good chance by Yandle but deflected by a sliding d-man.
Girardi may be injured. Favoring his left leg - let's hope it is just a sting.
Looks like 3-on-3 OT.
Not sure i like this effort by the Rangers. They are not looking like the playoff team in this one. In moments, especially the first period they have. But there are a lot moments where New Jersey was able to carry play and generate surprises for Lundquist.
Overtime:
First chance in OT by the Rangers. Very tight. Andy Greene saves that. Game saving. Does he get the win now, if the Devils win?
Kreider with a great skating move. But he misses wide.
Then Hayes with a rebound chance that rolls over his stick.
Jersey's best chance matched by Lundquist. Thanks Palmieri for shooting right into Lundquist's chest.
Stepan off the post leads to a breakaway two-on-one for the Devils and Stempniak finishes this one.
New York Rangers 1 New Jersey Devils 2
Seems wrong, but oh well. Rangers give the Devils their first win. Great.
As a note on that final shot - Stempniak put that high and near the left post - far from Lundquist. Notice the difference is savability between this shot/goal and the Palmieri shot/save. Lundquist had zero influence on where the puck was placed.
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