Ryan Strome scored twice as the surging New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-3 on Saturday, extending the Devils’ losing streak to five games and eight in their last nine.
Adam Fox, Kevin Rooney, Libor Hajek, and Filip Chytil also found the net for the Rangers, who have now won three straight games, a season-high, and six of their last eight.
“If you want to be in the playoff hunt, you have to string wins together,” said Rangers coach David Quinn. “We’re almost halfway through the season, and the guys understand what’s at stake. It’s crucial to build momentum with every passing game.”
Alexandar Georgiev made 24 saves while stepping in for the injured Igor Shesterkin, who suffered a groin injury in a 6-1 victory over the Devils on Thursday.
The Devils showed some life in the first period when P.K. Subban and Mikhail Maltsev scored within 17 seconds of each other to tie the game at 2-2 after falling behind early.
However, the Rangers quickly regained control. Rooney, a former Devil who joined the Rangers this season, capitalized on a 2-on-1 break with Chytil, who delivered a cross-ice pass that Rooney flipped over Mackenzie Blackwood for a 3-2 lead.
Hajek extended the lead to two just 65 seconds into the second period with a shot that deflected off Devils forward Janne Kuokkanen. It was Hajek’s first point of the season and his first goal since his NHL debut against New Jersey in March 2019.
Chytil added a close-range goal in the third, bringing the Rangers’ tally to 12 goals in their two-game sweep of the Devils.
Nathan Bastian cut the deficit to 5-3, but Strome sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
“If we keep playing like that, we’re going to lose every night,” said Devils coach Lindy Ruff. “Our puck management wasn’t good, our attention to detail wasn’t sharp, and we lost key battles. The desperation and compete level we needed just wasn’t there.”
The Rangers’ recent success is even more impressive given the absences of key players such as Artemi Panarin (personal leave), Jacob Trouba (broken thumb), and Chytil, who only recently returned to the lineup.
“We’ve worked hard all season, but now we’re finally stringing wins together,” Strome said. “Today was a solid team effort, and everyone contributed. We should be pleased with how we played.”
The Rangers caught an early break when Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen was assessed a double minor for high sticking just 1:33 into the game. Fox capitalized 33 seconds later with a coast-to-coast rush, followed by Strome’s seventh goal of the season off a Devils turnover.
Subban closed the gap to 2-1 with a point shot at 14:54, and Maltsev tied it up at 15:11 with a close-range effort.
Struggles at Home
The Devils have now fallen to 2-9-1 at home after dropping all five games of their latest homestand. The last time they lost five straight at home was during the 2000-01 season, a campaign that ironically saw them reach the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Colorado in seven games.
Game Notes
- Kaapo Kakko returned to the Rangers lineup after missing six games due to COVID-19 protocols, assisting on Strome’s first goal.
- With Shesterkin sidelined, former Devil Keith Kinkaid served as the Rangers’ backup goaltender.
- Devils center Michael McLeod missed his first game of the season.
- Georgiev picked up an assist on Fox’s goal.
- The Devils signed forward Graeme Clarke to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2021-22 season. Clarke was a third-round pick in the 2019 draft.
Up Next
- Rangers: They will continue their road trip with games in Pittsburgh on Sunday and Tuesday before heading to Boston for two games.
- Devils: Begin a three-game road trip with a matchup against the Boston Bruins, followed by games against the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders.
