Rangers dispense of Devils before all-important clash with Hurricanes
The Rangers’ game Monday night may have been against the Devils, but it was all about the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Earning two points in a 3-1 win over a Devils team that ended their season last year and are now on the outside looking in at the playoffs is satisfying.
Though it was imperative to do so if the Rangers, now four points ahead of Carolina in the Metropolitan Division standings, wanted an opportunity to further separate themselves from the Canes in Tuesday’s contest in Raleigh, N.C.
A straightforward victory over the Devils — their third of the season — set the Rangers up to do just that.
“[The Hurricanes are] right behind us,” said Ryan Lindgren, who played an integral role in killing off the Devils’ five-minute power play in the second period after Matt Rempe got thrown out for the second time against the Devils for contact to the head.
“Obviously, they’ve been playing some really good hockey as of late. Every point is huge and [Tuesday] will be a big one, for sure.”
Jonathan Quick made it happen with a 20-save performance, which allowed the 38-year-old netminder to tie Dominik Hasek for the 15th-most wins in NHL history with 389.
As a result, the Hurricanes will have to face Igor Shesterkin in goal on Tuesday as they look to keep pace with the first-place Rangers.
This particular back-to-back slate came at a critical time when teams are starting to eye playoff position.
The Rangers have been the No. 1 team in the Metro since Oct. 24 and the Hurricanes are currently the only team within reach.
Expect Carolina to approach the game as such, and then some, when the two clubs meet for the third and final time this regular season.
“A team that we’re battling with for that spot,” said Mika Zibanejad, who scored his first five-on-five goal since Dec. 23 in the victory. “It’s going to be a tough game and a good challenge.”
The Devils continue to adjust to the departure of head coach Lindy Ruff and the promotion of assistant Travis Green, which tilted the ice in the Blueshirts’ favor for a majority of the 60-minute contest.
After Zibanejad opened the scoring by backhanding the puck past new Devils goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, the Rangers’ lead was doubled on a shot from Erik Gustafsson at the top of the zone while Rempe was screening in front.
Rempe, skating in his 10th career contest, was again assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct while playing the Devils for a high-elbowed hit he threw on Jonas Siegenthaler.
The Devils took exception, just like they did when the 21-year-old bashed Nathan Bastian 13 seconds into his shift in Newark on Feb. 22.
The 6-foot-8 ¹/₂ forward, who is likely facing a suspension for the hit, then waved to the Devils as he was escorted off the ice by an official.
That gives Rempe a stat line of 32 penalty minutes and two ejections in 5:01 of ice time against the Devils in his short NHL career.
“I thought he was playing a really strong game, total credit on the goal for him,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Rempe. “He had a good shift going, got back, got to the front of the net and we ended up leaving him out there. I think he was just tracking the hit. I don’t want to comment too much on it until I get to see it again.”
