Rangers show ‘competitive spirit,’ unload season’s worth of frustration on Devils
It has been a frustrating season for the New York Rangers, especially at Madison Square Garden.
Yet, the Blueshirts unleashed that pent-up anguish Tuesday night. That in turn allowed their fans to enjoy a pretty one-sided 4-1 Rangers win over the rival Devils, and a third-period goalie fight between Igor Shesterkin and Jacob Markstrom.
The Rangers claimed their third straight victory, and first against against the Devils since January of 2025, and extended their home win streak to three, which is a new season high.
It was one of New York’s most complete efforts from start to finish, particularly since New Jersey entered with three wins in their past four games and had dominated the Blueshirts in their two previous meetings this season.
“When you play a divisional opponent like [the Devils] there’s a storied rivalry there, and so when you have a spirited game like that and you win in your home building, it’s a good feeling,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said afterward. “I’m happy for the players and also you get a sense of what the Garden is like when you compete hard and the fanbase values and they appreciate your work ethic and your competitive spirit out there. We certainly felt that tonight.”
Rangers took it to Devils on Tuesday
This game will be remembered for Shesterkin pummeling Markstrom after the Devils goalie skated the 200 feet to take on the Rangers star netminder in the third period. But the beat down truly started in the first period.
In a season hallmarked by miserable performances on home ice, the Rangers out-attempted the Devils 24-17 in the first period and owned the high-danger chances 9-1.
The Rangers were snake bitten offensively most of this season at the Garden, shut out seven times in just 37 games this season.
But on Tuesday they buried those first-period chances too. Conor Sheary beat Markstrom at 8:14 of the first, then captain J.T. Miller scored a power-play goal at 13:39 — only his fifth of the year and just his second at the Garden in 2025-26.
“It’s a domino effect. You play better. You win more,” Miller explained postgame. “There’s a lot of weight here at the Garden. We feel a responsibility to play for the Ranger crest, and there’s games where things haven’t gone our way, but as of late I think we’re feeling good.”
After Connor Brown cut the Rangers lead to 2-1 early the second period, fourth-liner Jaroslav Chmelar gave the Rangers — and the crowd — a boost by scoring his third of the season. Mika Zibanejad sealed the feel-good night, which began when he was named the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner, by scoring his team-leading 33rd goal.
“We’ve got to at least end the season playing the right way and approach each game and make sure we put it all out there,” Zibanejad said. “Obviously getting some [positive] results now and doing it at home, that’s always a good feeling.”
Igor Shesterkin’s take down of Jacob Markstrom was cherry on top for Rangers
There have been a rash of goalie fights around the NHL this season for some reason. Yet, Shesterkin vs Markstrom harkened memories of bad blood from Devils-Rangers games of yesteryear.
But there’s no question the Rangers, and the 17,422 at MSG on Tuesday night, got an emotional boost from Markstrom challenging Shesterkin. They then offered one of the season’s loudest ovations when the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner took down the Vezina runner-up from that year at 9:05 of the third.
“That was awesome,” Miller said. “For everything that’s gone on this year in this arena, that was the most pumped up I’ve been all season. I’m so happy for him, a great moment.
“There hasn’t been, unfortunately, a lot to cheer about this year so to have a moment like that it’s really special. I’m glad the fans got it, but I’m happy for Igor.”
“It was awesome,” Zibanejad said. It was a lot of fun to watch.”
Shesterkin admitted postgame that it was first goalie fight, and said his goal in the bout was a modest one.
“I didn’t want to get knocked out.”
“It’s been a while,” Sullivan said, when asked the last time he saw two goalies fight. “I didn’t know [Shesterkin] had that in him.”
