The Rangers blew an opportunity to go up 3-0 in the series, falling 2-1 in overtime to the Devils. Dougie Hamilton scored at 11:36 of overtime to give New Jersey the win. Chris Kredier had given the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead at 3:39 of the second period with Jack Hughes scoring on the PP at 10:37 of that frame to tie it at one. Game 4 is Monday night at MSG.
Game recap:
Rangers lines:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko Lafrenière-Chytil-Kakko Vesey-Goodrow-Motte
Lindgren-Fox Miller-Trouba Mikkola-Schneider
Shesterkin Halà¡k
Scratches: Harpur, Brodzinski, Hajek, Leschyshyn, Domingue
Devils lines:
Meier-Hischier-Bratt Haula-Hughes-Palat Tatar-McLeod-Mercer Boqvist-Lazar-Bastian
Siengenthaler-Hamilton Graves-Marino Bahl-Severson
Schmid Vanecek
Scratches: L. Hughes, Sharangovich, Smith, Wood, Blackwood
A few thoughts:
1) Offense: not the best game for the Blueshirts, though the Devils did a much better job of limiting time and space. The game was much more tightly checked than the first two contests, which somewhat limited the chances for New York. The latter part of the third period and overtime was more wide open with both teams having chances. New York didn't aid their chances, turning the puck over 19 times after just none the first two games.
An area of concern for the fanbase, was the team's tendency to try and play a fancier game at home after using a more physical, grind it out style on the road. This was the case at times during the game, though more concerning was the overpassing, looking for the perfect shot and play, rather than letting pucks go on net. That overpassing or looking for perfect play resulted in several of the giveaways.
I didn't think any of the four lines were great. Kreider did get the goal but the top line, especially Patrick Kane and Mika Zibanejad, goalless now in eight straight games, were just okay at best. While that line was meh, the second line struggled. As Vince Mercogliano highlighted Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Vladimir Tarasenko failed to record a shot on goal in regulation while allowing seven for the Devils. Panarin had four shot attempts miss the target with the trio combined for seven giveaways, as well.
The third line might have been the team's best, which isn't saying that much. New York's bottom trio was kind of irrelevant. I do credit New Jersey for the solid road game they played with Akira Schmid making a big difference, though New York didn't overpressure him..
2) Defense: solid performance. New Jersey had a handful of high-danger chances, but the blueliners did a good job of limiting those. The Devils like to use pick plays, like all teams, which was called twice during the game. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren were on the ice for the game-winner, but it's hard to blame them. The forwards collapsed low but no one picked up Hamilton as the trailer and Goodrow's block attempt was a tick late and short. That goal was the Devils' first at 5x5 in the series.
Igor Shesterkin came up big when needed. The PPG by Hughes went off the shaft of Igor's stick and beat him top-shelf. Hamilton's was similar to the other side and he had a ton of time to pick a spot. Shesterkin was his solid self,
3) Devils lineup changes: the big change was Schmid replacing Vitek Vanecek in net. In addition, Yegor Sharangovich, Miles Wood and Brendan Smith were replaced by Jesper Boqvist, Curtis Lazar and Jonas Siengenthaler.
Schmid was solid, not spectacular. He made the simple save, which is something Vaneneck failed to do. Schmid was strong positionally, allowing him to make saves look easy, but New York didn't do enough to make life difficult on him. His best save might have been with the pad on Jacob Trouba on a shot he saw late but was in the right place. The strategy looked to be shoot high, but you need to get the shot on goal to be effective. Kreider scored high to the short side, but Tarasenko and Trouba missed the net high on similar attempts.
4) Special teams: always a difference maker and was tonight. In Games 1-2, the Rangers tallied four PPG to the Devils' one. Tonight, New Jersey's first goal on the man-advantage while New York went 0-for-5; the main reason for the loss.
New Jersey changed up their defensive strategy on the PK, pushing their zone higher, pressuring the points. The Devils also made the Rangers set up wider, taking away the bumper spot. In addition, the neutral zone coverage had the Blueshirts using the drop pass more to try and get the puck in the offensive zone. Panarin did miss two golden chances, but beyond that, the Rangers did little. In Game 4, quicker passes and more player movement will be needed. Swap Panarin and Zib at times, same with Kane to create additional looks. For the love of god, please stop the drop pass, just chip it softly in and chase if no carry in lane exists.
The PPG allowed came after a brutal call by the officials, in line with the playoffs to date. Timo Meier falls on Igor's leg, pushed slightly by the d-man, Igor retaliates, as one would expect, and he gets the penalty with nothing to Meier. But the Rangers had their chances, they just failed to convert.
Huge Game 4 on Monday.