Key Rangers takeaways from 5-3 win against Devils in preseason opener
Though most of their lineup regulars didn’t make the trek across the Hudson River on Sunday, the New York Rangers were still plenty good enough to win their preseason opener 5-3 against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.
Those who did travel to Newark made the most of their opportunity. The Rangers had five different goal scorers, and 11 of the 18 skaters landed on the score sheet, in a game the visitors never trailed.
Gabe Perreault, New York’s first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, opened the scoring 3:08 into the first period. He buried a a snap shot from the bottom of the slot off a slick feed from defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, the son of Devils general manager, Tom Fitzgerald.
New Jersey tied it at 10:49 when Brian Halonen beat Jonathan Quick inside the near post for a power-play goal. Quick played the first 22:42 and that was the only goal he allowed on 13 shots. Dylan Garand finished up between the pipes and surrendered two goals, including a 5-on-3 power-play tally in the closing minutes, on 15 shots.
The Rangers pulled away in the second period, scoring three straight goals — and four overall — to take a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. Dylan Roobroeck, Conor Sheary, and Scott Morrow each scored in a 10-minute span to make it 4-1 midway through the period.
After Paul Cotter scored for the Devils at 15:52, the Rangers answered back 59 seconds later. Jonny Brodzinski buried the rebound of Urho Vaakanainen’s left-wing shot to restore New York’s three-goal lead. That score held up until Arseny Gritsyuk wired a one-timer from the right circle over Garand’s glove for a 5-on-3 goal with 1:39 to play in regulation.
Let’s break down the key Rangers takeaways from their 5-3 preseason victory Sunday.
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Rangers fourth line stands tall, literally and figuratively
Forget about Twin Towers. In his first game behind the Rangers bench as head coach, Mike Sullivan decided to go with a fourth line that featured Tri Towers. That young threesome of Matt Rempe (6-foot-9), Roobroeck (6-foot-7), and Nathan Aspinall (6-foot-5) stood out Sunday, and not just because of their height.
Roobroeck, who scored 20 goals as a rookie pro with Hartford of the American Hockey League last season, led the Rangers with two points and won eight of nine face-offs. The 21-year-old potted a rebound from in front after Rempe created the scoring opportunity with a combination of speed and his long reach cruising down right wing 3:11 into the second period. Roobroeck later picked up a secondary assist on Brodzinski’s goal.
Aspinall, a 2024 fifth-round pick, held his own on the ice and in a second-period fight with New Jersey’s Nathan Legare. He was plus-2, as were each of his linemates.
Rempe’s strong all-around game was most important. He created scoring chances, had an assist, and played smart in 14:17 TOI, that included nearly two minutes on the power play.
“I thought ‘Remps’ had a great game,” Sullivan told reporters postgame. “He was really strong on pucks. He hangs on to pucks down low. … He made good decisions when plays weren’t there off the rush. He would drive pucks low, and he would go to work down underneath the hashmarks. When he does that, I think he’s a handful for our opponents.”
Old friend impresses Rangers coach Mike Sullivan with ‘terrific game’
Conor Sheary, in Rangers camp on a PTO, sure made a strong case for himself Sunday. The diminutive (5-foot-8) forward, scored on a breakaway and had several other prime scoring chances, skating on the top line with Perreault and Juuso Parssinen.
Sheary played in all game situations, tied for the team lead with three shots on goal, and totaled nearly 17 minutes of ice-time. The 33-year-old played with jump, as evidenced on his goal 11:45 into the second period.
Sullivan knows Sheary well since together they helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. That won’t hurt Sheary’s chances of, at least, getting a long look in camp to play in New York’s bottom six this season, though he’s still a long shot to make the team.
“I thought Conor had a terrific game,” Sullivan stated. “I thought he did a lot of the little things, just putting pucks behind their D, chasing pucks down, creating turnovers.”
He, Perreault and Parssinen were dominant on several first-period shifts, and the best Rangers threesome throughout the game. Parssinen was solid as he bids to land the 3C role, and Perreault flashed his high-end skill and hockey IQ throughout.
Costly mistake by Brennan Othmann
Oner of the players Sheary must beat out for a roster spot is Brennan Othmann, New York’s 2021 first-round pick. Othmann didn’t do himself any favors in the competition Sunday.
The 22-year-old had a relatively quiet afternoon, playing on a line with veterans Justin Dowling and Taylor Raddysh. Othmann recorded one shot on goal, a left-wing snap shot off the rush in the third period which was a good scoring chance.
But later in the period, Othmann was assessed a five-minute major penalty for elbowing New Jersey defenseman Calen Addison in the head. It can be argued that Othmann led with the shoulder, not the elbow. But either way, it’s clear that the point of contacts was Addison’s head. As such, Othmann may be in line for a suspension, which could derail his chance to crack the opening-night roster.
That’d be a blow for both the Rangers and one of their most important prospects, one who’s confidence is growing after coming off an excellent rookie camp.
More good than bad for Scott Morrow
Like Perreault and Othmann, Morrow had an excellent rookie camp and stood out in the two games against Philadelphia Flyers prospects last weekend. That’s what the Rangers expected, to be honest. Those are three of New York’s top prospects and closest to being NHL-ready.
Not surprisingly, Morrow got plenty of run Sunday. He logged 19:27 TOI, third on the Rangers behind veteran defensemen Will Borgen (21:56) and Vaakanainen (23:58). Morrow also quarterbacked the top power-play unit, though the Rangers were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Morrow did some nice things, though, making his case to earn a spot on the right side of the third pair. He scored a goal, when his straightaway shot hit the backside of New Jersey’s Dmitry Osipov and snuck through the pads of goalie Nico Daws 13:29 into the second period. The 22-year-old also showed quick feet and good anticipation keeping several pucks in near the blue line throughout the afternoon.
It was more of a mixed bag defensively for Morrow, who was caught deep on a partial Devils breakaway in the opening period and beaten a couple other times. Nothing too egregious, but things for him to clean up as the preseason competition continues.
