3 Thoughts: Devils Beat Up Rangers, Literally; Blueshirts a Mess; Total Buy-In

NEWARK—When the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers took ice for warmups, the Devils’ rival were missing a key forward. Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette healthy scratched forward Chris Kreider one day before the NHL holiday break in a key Hudson River Rivalry matchup.

If the Rangers scratched Kreider to ice their best team for a chance to win, it certainly didn’t work out that way.

Mid-way through the third period, the Devils had such a commanding 5-0 lead, their fans rained chants of “Iggorrrrrr” and “Kaa-po Ka-kko.” Then, the Devils jumbotron showed Rangers fans cheering in 2019 when the Devils drafted Jack Hughes, insinuating they were getting the better player in Kakko.

MORE: Devils Rival: Rangers Trade Former 2019 Second Overall Pick

On the eve of Christmas Eve, Devils fans received quite the gift. This wasn’t just a beat down by the Devils. They outclass, and embarrassed the Rangers in a dominant victory.

Let’s get to how it happened.

Devils Recap

After Paul Cotter and Vincent Trocheck drops the mitts and engage in a bout of fisticuffs, Jack Hughes opened Monday’s scoring to give the Devils an early 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Devils made the Rangers pay for too many men on the ice on two separate occasions. First, Dawson Mercer fed Timo Meier for a one-time blast to double New Jersey’s lead. Then Luke Hughes fed his brother, Jack Hughes, for his 15ht goal of the season. Both were power play goals to take a 3-0 lead in the middle frame.

The Devils, once again, owned the third period and put pedal to the metal. Stefan Noesen finished off a tic-tak-toe play for his 16th goal of the season, assisted by Timo Meier and Nico Hischier. Dawson Mercer buried the dagger to help propel New Jersey to a 5-0 shutout.

Jacob Markstrom needed to stop just 12 pucks, again. He recorded his second shutout in as many games and turned aside three shorthanded chances.

3 Thoughts

Met at the Door

With some of their top players underperforming, and missing one of their key forwards as a healthy scratch, the Rangers wanted to establish themselves physically early in Monday’s tilt.

First, Paul Cotter and Vincent Trocheck dropped the gloves. Then Timo Meier and Artemi Panarin got into it between whistles. Later, Brenden Dillon answered Sam Carrick’s challenge and gave him the business.

Not only did the Devils out-hurt their rivals, meeting them at the door by matching their game, they utilized the juice from the physicality to their advantage.

After Cotter and Trocheck’s fight, it took Jack Hughes all of 39 seconds to find the back of the net to take an early 1-0 lead.

READ: Devils Locker Room: Dillon Addresses Bunting Cheap Shots; Noesen ‘Saw Red’

Dillon said it best on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is who the Devils are now. When necessary, they’ll mix it up. And they certainly took it to the Rangers in the first 20 minutes.

Rangers are a Mess

It’s been well documented that the Rangers are spiraling. However, until you see it with your own eyes, you don’t fully understand it.

It’s as if the Rangers never played together before.

They took two bench minors for too many men on the ice. There was complete confusion who was supposed to jump over the boards for their next shift, and when.

Ultimately, the Devils made the Rangers pay by scoring a power play goal during each infraction. One goal by Meier, the other a connection between brothers, a goal from Jack assisted by Luke.

It wasn’t just the bench minors, however. The Rangers couldn’t muster up much offensive zone possession. They blew assignments, allowed odd-man rushes, and New Jersey even had more short-handed chances than Peter Laviolette was likely comfortable with.

As proof, Mika Zibenajad ran into Reilly Smith at the Devils’ blue line while trying to transition the puck on the power play. He lost possession, and gave the Devils a shorthanded chance going the other way.

New Jersey is a great team. However, the Rangers were a great team just six weeks ago.

The downfall has been monumental, and the Devils took advantage.

Total Buy-In

The Devils are completely bought in.

In back-to-back performances, New Jersey allowed just 12 shots against. Markstrom captured his second shutout in as many games, with just 24 total saves in the last two contests.

That has a lot to do with the total buy-in in all three zones. Of the Rangers’ 34 attempts, the Devils blocked 13 shots and allowed just 12 to get through to Markstrom.

On the penalty kill, New Jersey didn’t just prevent goals and eat minutes. They played with the puck and accrued scoring chances.

The Devils are willing to match any kind of game the opposition throws at them.

Run and gun? No problem.

Physical tilt? They’re in.

Defensive showdown? They’re proving to be among the best.

Heading into the holiday break, the Devils are scorching hot.

READ MORE: What Sidney Crosby Thinks About Jack Hughes & the Devils (+)

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