Filip Chytil scored 2:15 into overtime as the New York Rangers rallied to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Monday night, ending the Devils’ 11-game road win streak.
Vincent Trocheck contributed a goal and an assist, while Kaapo Kakko and Chris Kreider also found the net for the Rangers. K’Andre Miller added two assists, and Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves. The Rangers, now 5-1-1 in their last seven games, overcame two two-goal deficits to secure their fourth straight victory.
Chytil’s game-winner, his sixth goal of the season and first in overtime, came off a pass from Artemi Panarin.
“Nice pass from Artemi (Panarin). I just shoot and score a goal,″ Chytil said. The team’s comeback was great. We showed our character, and we scored a good two points. We just have to keep going like that.”
Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Jack Hughes scored for the Devils, who had not lost on the road since the season opener in Philadelphia and fell one win short of tying the NHL record. Vitek Vanecek made 19 saves for New Jersey, losing for just the fourth time in 16 decisions.
Trailing 3-1 in the second period, the Rangers quickly tied the game with two goals just 7 seconds apart. This came after Shesterkin denied a penalty shot attempt by Hughes, who was taken down from behind by defenseman Braden Schneider on a breakaway with 7:10 left in the period.
“We had the opportunity to put the nail in the coffin with the penalty shot, but we didn’t,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “That probably gave them momentum.”
Trocheck scored on a power play with 6:02 left in the period, tipping a shot by Adam Fox through traffic to cut the deficit to one. This marked Fox’s 22nd game with at least one point this season.
Kakko then energized the Madison Square Garden crowd with his sixth goal off the ensuing faceoff, tying the game at 3-3.
“You could see the emotion from the guys on the ice,” Fox said. “You don’t see that all the time on just a goal, but when you’re able to come back from 3-1 that quickly and the crowd gets really into it, I think it’s a big momentum swing.”
The Devils started strong, taking a 2-0 lead with Hischier scoring his 13th goal at 3:05 of the first and Mercer doubling the lead with his eighth goal at 4:46.
“It was a hard battle out there,” Hischier said. “Penalties kind of slowed us down in the second. We must be more disciplined. It’s a game of rivalry and fun to watch. They got one more goal.”
The Rangers cut the deficit when Kreider scored his 14th goal with 1:35 left in the first period. He took a cross-ice pass from Trocheck and fired a high shot past Vanecek, extending his home points streak to 11 games.
Kreider has points in five consecutive games against the Devils and seven of his last eight contests versus New Jersey. His 19 goals and 17 assists against New Jersey are his most against any NHL team.
“It started real slow. We battled back in the second period,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “It’s a big one. They are a good team.”
Hughes put New Jersey up 3-1 at 11:05 of the second period with a backhand shot for his team-best 15th goal of the season, extending his point streak to a career-best eight games.
NOTES
New Jersey won the previous meeting, 5-3 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 28. … New York has won 10 of its last 12 games against the Devils since March 4, 2021. … The teams meet twice at Prudential Center, on Jan. 7 and March 30.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Host Dallas on Tuesday night.
- Rangers: Host Toronto on Thursday night.
