Newark, N.J. — Timo Meier lit the lamp twice and Jacob Markstrom turned aside all 26 shots he faced as the New Jersey Devils shut out the New York Rangers 4-0 on Saturday night at Prudential Center. The victory not only extended the Devils’ winning streak to three games but also secured the Tampa Bay Lightning their eighth consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier also found the back of the net for New Jersey, while the Rangers saw their two-game win streak come to a halt.
After a tight, scoreless opening period, Meier broke the deadlock on the power play at 10:56 of the second period — capitalizing just four seconds after Sam Carrick was whistled for interference.
Bratt doubled the lead just 87 seconds later, scoring shorthanded for his 21st goal of the season. Meier struck again late in the third period with his second of the night — his 24th this year — before Hischier sealed the deal with his team-leading 35th goal just over a minute later. Hischier also added two assists for a three-point night.
Markstrom stood tall in goal, earning his fourth shutout of the season and 24th of his NHL career. The veteran Swedish netminder improved to 26-14-6 in his first season with New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the Rangers’ playoff hopes continue to fade. Last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners now sit two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild-card spot with only six games remaining. Montreal has one extra game in hand.
New York’s power play woes continued, going 0-for-2 on the night, leaving them with just two goals in their last 43 man-advantage opportunities.
The Devils strengthened their hold on third place in the Metropolitan Division, now sitting at 89 points.
Igor Shesterkin made 12 saves in a tough outing for the Rangers, falling to 25-27-5 on the season.
Game Notes & Takeaways:
- Rangers Road Struggles: New York dropped to 18-16-4 away from home. They’ve now been outscored 9-0 in their last two trips to Newark.
- Devils Home Cooking: New Jersey improved to 19-13-5 on home ice, winning four of their last five overall.
- Turning Point: Meier’s power-play goal midway through the second period broke the ice and shifted momentum fully in New Jersey’s favor.
- By the Numbers: The Devils are nearly automatic when leading after two periods, boasting a 34-1-2 record in that situation this season. They’ve also registered nine shutouts.
What’s Next:
- Rangers: Return home to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.
- Devils: Host the league-leading Boston Bruins on Tuesday at Prudential Center.
