Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG The New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/game-day/new-york-rangers-matt-rempe-new-jersey-devils-nate-bastian] defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-1 on Thursday Night in dominating fashion. Igor Shesterkin fell just short of a shutout, stopping 39 of 40 New Jersey shots. Nico Daws struggled in goal for the Devils, making just 13 out of 18 saves. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0NTQwNDM2MzAyMjc1ODk5/usatsi_22588613.jpg] Blueshirts forward, Alexis Lafreniere scored two goals in the contest, but not before Matt Rempe was ejected from the game just 2:25 in after elbowing Nathan Bastian in the head. Rempe was issued a match penalty which prompted a five-minute power play for the Devils, in which New Jersey failed score. The Rangers got a power play chance of their own just a few minutes later and they struck first. Mika Zibanejad scored at the 9:15 mark. The Zibanejad rebound goal came after bouncing the puck off the post and into the back of the net. With 2:05 left in the first period, Lafreniere made it 2-0 in favor of the Rangers. The goal came on another quick play off the faceoff, this time it was won by the Devils before a turnover. The puck popped right out on the stick of Lafreniere, who sniped it for his 15th goal of the season. This goal, like the Rangers first, was also unassisted. After one period of play the Devils heavily led in shots, 16-9 to be exact. However, the Rangers were in front with a 2-0 lead. Early into the second, Trouba leveled Bastian before the two had a hostile fight. Chris Kreider made it three for the Rangers at the 9:53 mark of the middle frame. The play needed only two passes to move the puck 200-feet, as Shesterkin incredibly sent it up to Panarin, who dished it across to Kreider for the tap-in goal. Kreider buried the 2-on-1 chance for his 29th goal of the season, just one shy of reaching the 30 goal mark. Before the second period ended, Lafreniere split the defenders and snuck in on a breakaway. He lifted the puck top corner for his second goal of the game with 40 seconds to go, putting the Rangers up 4-0. Vincent Trocheck made the lead pass to Lafreniere and Panarin had the secondary assist. The Rangers led 4-0 at the end of the second period. Trocheck added another goal for the Rangers as Panarin slid the puck across the slot to him on a 2-on-1. Erik Gustafsson tallied the secondary assist. The Rangers final goal of the game came with 5:31 remaining on the clock, making it 5-0. For Trocheck, the goal was his 20th of the season. New Jersey got on the board late, as Jack Hughes made it 5-1 with 2:07 remaining, spoiling Shesterkin's shutout.
