3 Rangers takeaways after embarrassing 5-0 loss to New Jersey Devils
The New York Rangers are glad to be getting the next four days off after they were embarrassed in a 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Monday afternoon.
The Rangers (16-17-1) were hoping to enter the Christmas break on a high note but did the exact opposite, managing just 12 shots on goal, their fewest in a game since 2001. They went home for the holidays as a sub-.500 team after their 13th loss in 17 games (4-13-0).
The day started with the stunning news that forward Chris Kreider, the team’s senior player, would be a healthy scratch. The Kreider-less Rangers came out with a spirited effort in the first period, getting into two fights, playing physical and with an edge — but the Devils scored the only goal.
Mental mistakes — in particular a pair of bench minors for too many men — helped the Devils break the game open in the second period. Timo Meier and Jack Hughes scored on the power plays following the bench minors to give the Devils a 3-0 lead that seemed a lot bigger. Stefan Noesen and Hughes added third-period goals, adding insult to injury.
3 Rangers takeaways from 5-0 loss to Devils
Here are three takeaways from the Rangers loss on Monday.
1. Special teams fail once again
Similar to Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, special-teams play made a big difference. The Rangers’ power play continues to be ice cold; New York has gone six straight games without a power-play goal after an 0-for-4 showing at The Rock. More damaging was that the penalty kill, which entered the day leading the NHL, surrendered three power-play goals on four opportunities.
New Jersey’s first two power-play goals came from the too many men penalties — simple mental mistakes that could have easily been avoided but ended up costing the Rangers big time. Their third came on an unnecessary slash from Alexis Lafreniere in the third period. The PK’s failure is a huge concern because it was the one area of the team that had been functioning well.
The Rangers’ lone successful penalty kill came after Devils coach Sheldon Keefe called off the dogs, using his fourth line in a 5-0 game with four minutes to play.
2. No holiday cheer in afternoon brawl
The Hudson River rivals were exchanging fists rather than gifts in their final game before Christmas, with two fights in the first period. Vincent Trocheck and Paul Cotter got things going when they fought 3:55 into the game after coming together along the boards. Even Artemi Panarin got in on the action with a roughing penalty 75 seconds later. Sam Carrick and New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillion dropped the gloves at 19:08 in a much more spirited bout, right after Adam Fox and Nico Hischier had exchanged slashes, creating a scrum.
The second period saw a battle between Lafreniere and Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler that lasted multiple shifts, with the two eventually getting offsetting minors for slashing and cross-checking. Then it was Brett Berard and Dougie Hamilton, who got coincidental minors for going at one another. Tempers settled down in the third, mostly because the outcome was decided.
3. No Kreider, no difference
The big story heading into the game was that Kreider was a healthy scratch. Whether this was to send a message to Kreider, the team, or generate an overall spark, it failed miserably. Rather than a spirited effort, the Rangers produced another dud, getting blown out by one of their biggest rivals. Coach Peter Laviolette’s message to his team clearly was not received.
“It was just a lineup decision, we need more,” Laviolette said. “At the end of the day, we’re not playing a brand (of hockey) that we need to play in order to be successful. He’s a guy that we count on to help deliver that. For me, those conversations aren’t easy, but that’s the decision I made today.”
Maybe Kreider will come back after the holiday break with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove after the scratch. He’s scored 11 goals, just one in his past eight games, has just one assist in 30 games and has not been contributing nearly enough — especially on the power play. Hopefully, the longest-tenured Ranger will see this as a wakeup call and come back from the break with improved play.
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