Igor Shesterkin delivered a standout performance, making 27 saves to earn his first NHL shutout. He led the New York Rangers to a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night in the four-game series opener.
Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each found the back of the net, with Adam Fox assisting on both goals, as the Rangers continued their strong play, improving to 10-4-3 since March 13. Pavel Buchnevich added an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left, marking the 20,000th goal in Rangers’ franchise history.
“It was an important game for us, and we still have meaningful hockey ahead,” Zibanejad said regarding the Rangers’ playoff aspirations. “Igor was outstanding, keeping us in the game, and we stepped up in the third period to secure the win.”
Mackenzie Blackwood made 17 saves for the Devils, who have struggled recently, falling to 2-7-2 in their last 11 games. The return of captain Nico Hischier, who had been sidelined since February 27 due to a broken nose, wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Shesterkin, 25, was sharp from the outset, stopping a breakaway by Jesper Bratt in the first 10 seconds and another by the Devils’ top scorer, Miles Wood, in the second period. After the game, Shesterkin looked up at the rafters at the Prudential Center in relief.
“It means a lot to me,” Shesterkin said through a translator about his shutout. “I want to thank all the players who blocked shots and worked hard in front of me, especially towards the end when it was really meaningful for me to secure the shutout. I’m grateful for their efforts.”
Zibanejad, who now has 12 goals in his last 15 games, opened the scoring with a breakaway goal at 7:02 of the first period. The speedy center received a pass at center ice, raced past the defense, and beat Blackwood with a forehand shot over the glove.
After a tight second period, Panarin extended the Rangers’ lead at 7:50 of the third, finishing off a cross-ice pass from Filip Chytil with a goal from the left circle.
Panarin’s goal came in his 100th game as a Ranger, bringing his point total to 138 in those games, breaking the previous 100-game mark of 137 set by Mark Messier.
“He’s a special player,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “At crucial moments, he makes crucial plays. Not many players in this league can do what he does.”
The Rangers and Devils will meet again on Thursday and Saturday in New York before returning to New Jersey on Sunday for the final game of their eight-game regular-season series. The Rangers currently lead the series 3-2, having won the last three matchups in New Jersey.
“If you don’t score, you can’t win,” Hischier said. “We had chances, but their goalie played well. We need to get players in front of the net, get pucks, and try to score those gritty goals. We were close a few times, but it’s frustrating not to get one in.”
Siegenthaler’s Debut
Defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler debuted for the Devils after being acquired in a trade with Washington on Sunday. The Swiss native logged 15:45 of ice time, paired with Will Butcher.
Rangers Sign Zac Jones
The Rangers announced the signing of defenseman Zac Jones to an entry-level contract just days after he helped the University of Massachusetts win the national championship. The 20-year-old had nine goals and 15 assists in 29 games this season. Jones will practice with the team as he prepares for his NHL debut.
Game Notes
- Emotions flared early in the game, with Chris Kreider of the Rangers and Damon Severson of the Devils receiving fighting majors just 1:27 into the contest.
- Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith and Devils center Michael McLeod also dropped the gloves in the second period.
- The Rangers did not have a power play opportunity.
- Hischier played with a protective cage to shield his surgically repaired nose.
