Rangers Introduce Devils To Playoff Hockey With A 5-1 Masterclass In Game 1
Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.Masterclass.
No, it wasn't a perfect game but if you're a Rangers fan it's THEIR perfect game to handle a team like the upstart Devils. The Rangers limited their turnovers & got pucks deep more times than not to neutralize New Jersey's biggest strength - their transition game. You could tell the postseason newcomers were nervous. Jack Hughes, among others, were making business decisions early to skirt contact. They were scrambling. Passing aimlessly to no one in particular. Meanwhile the Blueshirts, well-versed in playoff style hockey after last year's deep run, were clearly the more physical squad willing to wear pucks at any cost in front of their goalie. As the game went on Hughes got better and the Rangers ceded more opportunities but that's gonna happen when the opponent is chasing multiple goals. Overall they defended well, crushed the special teams battle (not only were they 2/3 on their own powerplays, they held the Devils scoreless and shotless over their 4 chances), and the glaring difference between the pipes was on display. For as sexy a short side snipe this was from perhaps the most unexpected source, Vanecek simply can't let this one past him with his team already chasing a pair:
Adam Fox sets up Ryan Lindgren and the Rangers take a 3-0 lead pic.twitter.com/GL00yDVtU4
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 19, 2023
It was all but over after that. The kids dominated puck possession as expected. Tarasenko, who got the scoring started, was all over the ice. Panarin was excellent, Fox was Fox, Kreider potted a pair of vintage Kreider PPGs, Trocheck was the agitating son of a bitch I knew he'd be, the 4th line was awesome - just not a whole lot to gripe about other than a couple bad turnovers outta K'Andre that led to two prime scoring chances (and a penalty shot that snapped Shesterkin's goose egg). On the Devils side, just about all their top guns were quiet. I don't remember Bratt or Mercer on the ice at all. Hischier and Meier brought a couple pucks to the blue paint but nothing all that dangerous. Hughes had a couple McDavid-esque rushes but it was a one-man offensive show which the Blueshirts will take every night. That's what happens when you play a smart, tough game and don't end up having to defend a bunch of odd-mans off broken plays.
It's only one, but you couldn't have asked for a better road opener against a team that had their number all regular season. New York's confidence should be at a high while the Devils are still wondering what the hell happened. The pressure's surely on them to make sure they don't head to MSG down 2-0, but the Rangers should be chomping at the bit to take advantage and put themselves in position to win a short series to start a long run. If the Blueshirts stay disciplined & follow the script they laid out tonight, New Jersey could be hard-pressed to hang a single W in their arena's cute little "road to 16 wins" decor.
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) April 18, 2023
VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!!