Devils fall to Rangers by a final score of 5-2. Game 7 is scheduled for Monday at Prudential Center.
NEW YORK -- New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff previously stated that the fourth game is the toughest to win in a series, regardless if the team is playing at home or on the road. Veteran forward and former Stanley Cup champion Ondrej Palat agreed.
"Everybody who's been through it will say it's the hardest thing to win that game, and I can say the same thing," Palat said. "The Rangers are going to be ready, ready to win on their home ice, and it's going to be the hardest one, so we need to be even better than (Game 5)."
After 60 minutes of play, the New York Rangers celebrated five goals and a victory in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden. Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Vladimir Tarasenko, Barclay Goodrow, and Braden Schneider all found the back of the net for New York, while Curtis Lazar and Dawson Mercer scored for New Jersey. Here are three takeaways from Game 6.
New Jersey Came Out Strong
Through the first 10 minutes of the opening frame one would have thought it was the Devils who were facing elimination. The club came out with speed and spent a majority of time playing in the offensive zone. Their passing was crisp, sticks were in the right lanes and players were in the right spots.
It looked like Game 6 was going to be a replica of the previous three, especially when Lazar scored the first goal of the game. The play began with a solid effort from Michael McLeod who carried the puck into the offensive zone and back to his defensemen on the blue line.
Nathan Bastian took the opening penalty of the game, but the Devils penalty kill unit stood tall and managed to keep the momentum in New Jersey's favor. Ruff could not have asked for a better opening 10-15 minutes from his club, but a few calls from the referees eventually gave the Rangers the momentum they needed.
Penalties and Turnovers Proved Costly
The Devils took three penalties in the opening frame, Bastian was called for interference, Mercer for tripping, and Ondrej Palat for tripping in the final second of the period.
Kreider would score his fifth power-play goal of the series to tie the game at the end of the first period. The Devils began the second period shorthanded with Palat in the box and minutes after his team killed off his tripping penalty, the veteran found himself back in the penalty box for slashing.
"I disagree with a few of them, kudos to our guys who did a tremendous job on some of the kills," Tatar said after the game, "I felt like every time we had momentum we were back on the penalty kill again."
During his press conference, Ruff declined to talk about the officiating but did say, "The penalties took our best players away from the game, they had to spend too much time on the bench."
Bahl and Severson Continue to Have Impact
Through the first six games of this series, the Devils' third defensive pairing of Damon Severson and Kevin Bahl have been the most reliable and consistent. Bahl's physical play and Severson's puck moving ability have been a positive for the team since the series began.
Before Game 6, Mike Morreale of NHL.com asked Ruff what has worked so well for Severson and Bahl.
"I think both players have defended well and move the puck quickly. I think Bahl's game has really grown. He's able to get up ice and help keep pucks alive offensively and pop into holes for offensive chances. They compliment each other."
Bahl earned the first playoff point of his career when he earned the primary assist on Lazar's goal. Severson was credited with the secondary assist, his second point of the first-round series.
Quick Hits
- undefined
- undefined
- undefined
The Devils are scheduled to be back on the ice at 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 30 to prepare for a critical Game 7 in front of their fans at Prudential Center.