Adam Proteau thinks the New York Rangers’ 5-1 win in Game 1 looked easier than it should’ve. But the Rangers' defense should also worry the New Jersey Devils.
The New York Rangers handily won Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New Jersey Devils Tuesday, coming away with a 5-1 victory that, quite frankly, looked easier than it should’ve.
The Rangers were in total control of the game, limiting the Devils to only 28 shots, 27 of which were turned aside by star goalie Igor Shesterkin.
Despite a lack of discipline – leading to three Devils power plays in the first period – the Blueshirts imposed their will on the home team. New Jersey netminder Vitek Vanecek was of little help, surrendering four goals on 22 Rangers shots for an .818 save percentage. Most people assumed the Rangers would have an advantage in goal, and it certainly played out that way. The Devils will be in big trouble if Vanecek doesn’t perform better because Shesterkin sure looked like he was on his game.
But it wasn’t just the goaltending that should make Rangers fans optimistic their favorite team can make quick work of New Jersey. It was the Rangers’ all-around dominance that made them such a tough matchup for the Devils. To wit: the Rangers blocked 23 shots in the game and didn’t give up a single shot on net in any of their four power plays in Game 1.
Yes, the Blueshirts also had their way with New Jersey on offense, with trade deadline acquisitions Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane chipping in with a goal and an assist, respectively. Longtime Ranger Chris Kreider also netted a pair of goals.
But it said something about the Rangers’ defensive efforts that the Devils’ high-octane offense was limited to just one goal when the game was never in doubt. New Jersey star forward Jack Hughes had the Devils’ lone marker, but he also was credited with five giveaways. The Rangers had Hughes and the other Devils’ forwards on their heels all game.
New York came away looking like a team that learned lessons from its 2022 playoff run and was eager to prove it’s a better team than last year’s edition.
There’s no doubt New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff will do his utmost to have the Devils adapt to the Rangers’ attack. Still, it’s not going to be easy to install the type of poise and patience that will be needed to draw even in the series. Indeed, it’s looking increasingly likely the Rangers win Game 2 Thursday night and put the Devils on the ropes.
The Devils’ young core got its first taste of playoff hockey, and they learned Tuesday night that even the smallest miscues could wind up landing behind your goalie and in the net. The playoffs are all about figuring out a way to minimize mistakes, and the Rangers came out of the gate focused and intent on establishing their presence in all zones.
The Rangers’ playoff experience was one of the reasons we picked them to beat the Devils in six games of this series, but after Game 1, the Rangers might eliminate New Jersey in five games or fewer.
In theory, the Devils could come back to even up the series and move on to the second round. But in reality, it sure seems like the Rangers are going to be too much for New Jersey to handle.
Perhaps next season, when the Devils will have learned lessons in this current series, they’ll look as calm and capable as the Rangers do this season. But there is something to be said about having to endure some bad times to eventually have good times, and the Devils' short-term future will probably have some more bad times.