After tight win vs. Rangers, Devils take momentum into road trip
NEWARK >> Not long after Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves for the New Jersey Devils in their 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center on Thursday night, he was asked if the game was a bit of a preview for how intense things might be when the two teams meet again in the playoffs.
His answer was a reminder that’s now more of an “if” than a “when.”
“You never know what’s going to happen, still seven games (left),” he said.
For as much as the focus was on the Blueshirts potentially being able to tie the Devils for second place in the Metropolitan Division with a win that ultimately didn’t materialize, it became somewhat lost that with the two points they earned over their Hudson River rivals, New
Jersey was able to climb to within just one point of the Carolina Hurricanes for the division lead.
Although Carolina does have a game in hand, it’s very much so within the realm of possibility that the Devils could win the division outright, which would then force a Hurricanes-Rangers matchup in the first round instead, while New Jersey would face one of the two wild card teams in the Eastern Conference.
That may, based on how Thursday night’s game looked, be a blessing in disguise for the Rangers, who had problems with the Devils speed and transition game, and were dominated at times despite what was ultimately a one-goal game.
Erik Haula and Timo Meier potted the goals for the Devils, while it was Chris Kreider’s power-play tally that served as the lone marker for a Rangers team that was, all things
considered, still somewhat happy with their showing in what was arguably the most intense regular season game they’ve played all year.
“That was a good hockey game,” head coach Gerard Gallant said. “2-1 score, but it was a good game. They were fast, they were quick, and it’s exactly what we expected. I thought after the first period, we played real well, but in the first, they were a lot quicker than we were. But, we picked up our game and played a lot better the last two
periods … they have a lot of skill and a lot of talent. They are a real good team. They’ve taken a step and have 102 points. They are a confident group. They work hard and play hard.”
It was the last meeting of the two teams for the regular season, and clinched the season series for the Devils, who take plenty of momentum into a two-game road trip starting in Chicago on Saturday night before returning home to play the Pittsburgh Penguins on
Tuesday and lowly Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
“I think our guys understand that there are going to be a lot of tight games (ahead),” said Devils head coach Lindy Ruff.
“We’ve been in a lot of tight games … if you look at the maturity we’ve shown with the puck when we’re leading, it gives us a chance to win on most nights. When we’re not disciplined and our puck play is poor, a lot of times, you see those goals against go up.”