Artemi Panarin gets New York Rangers going as Jaroslav Halak slams door on Devils 2-1
The New York Rangers made sure to not have another low shot performance in their rematch against the New Jersey Devils.
After a night where they lost 5-2 and only mustered 17 shots, the Blueshirts poured it on and outshot their rivals 37 to 26.
They needed everyone of them too because MacKenzie Blackwood was a brick wall in net for Jersey. Luckily, the Rangers’ Jaroslav Halak was solid too.
Recap: Rangers 2 vs Devils 1
1ST PERIOD
It was quite the change from the way the Rangers played on Thursday night when the Devils ran all over them. This time, the Blueshirts came out flying and registered the first 11 shots of the game that Mackenzie Blackwood did his best to stop.
New York game in waves and kept firing the puck from everywhere with glorious chances set up by Artemi Panarin playing in his first preseason game.
By the time the first period ended, the Rangers matched their entire shot total from the previous game with 17. Louis Domingue was only forced to make four saves.
2ND PERIOD
The Rangers started the second period on the power play thanks to a slashing call on Joseph Gambardella to the hands of Julien Gauthier. New York could only get one shot off when Zac Jones set up Jonny Brodzinski but Blackwood was there again.
That save was huge because after the penalty expired, Jack Hughes found a loose puck in the right circle and roofed it over Domingue’s blocker for the first goal of the game at 2:21.
Jaroslav Halak came in to play the second half of the game with 7:44 remaining and was called upon to make several big stops including a partial breakaway by Hughes.
Shots for the middle frame were much closer with the Rangers having an 11-10 advantage, but once again Blackwood stopped them all.
3RD PERIOD
In the early going of the final frame, the Blueshirts finally broke through on their 32nd shot of the evening. Artemi Panarin came in down the left circle and buried a great cross-ice feed from Braden Schneider at the 3:48 mark. Vitali Kravtsov picked up the secondary assist on the tying goal.
The Rangers persistence for firing pucks would pay off when K’Andre Miller’s shot deflected off of two Devils and by Blackwood at 11:46. Dryden Hunt and Gustav Rydahl, who are fighting for jobs registered the assists.
The Devils went on the power play with 2:02 remaining in the game thanks to a Jarred Tinordi cross check. They pulled Blackwood for the extra attacker but got a taste of their own medicine as Halak made at least two big stops and secured the win.
New York’s new backup stopped all 15 shots he faced but he did get a little help from Jimmy Vesey.
The 29 year-old forward is on a PTO trying to earn an NHL contract and he continues to be a factor in every preseason game he’s played. While he didn’t score in this one, he saved the a game tying goal on the PK late.
Notable New York Rangers
- Louis Domingue stopped 10 of 11 shots
- Jaroslav Halak went 15 for 15
- K’Andre Miller registered his second goal of the preseason
- Artemi Panarin scored in his first preseason game
- Vitali Kravtsov register his first point
- Gustav Rydahl needed his first point
Tomorrow (Saturday, October 1): Practice at MSG Training Center (12:00 PM)
Next Game: Wednesday, October 5 vs. Boston Bruins (7:00 PM – TV: TNT)
*Schedule subject to change
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