Newark, N.J. — Jack Hughes continued his stellar season with a two-goal performance, while Jacob Markstrom recorded his second consecutive shutout to propel the New Jersey Devils to a commanding 5-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night.
Timo Meier, Stefan Noesen, and Dawson Mercer also found the back of the net for the Devils, who have been surging in December with a 7-2-1 record. Hughes added an assist on Mercer’s goal, capping off a three-point night for the young star.
Markstrom, coming off a 12-save shutout against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, faced little resistance from the struggling Rangers. His highlight save came early in the third period, denying Artemi Panarin’s shot from the left circle.
Jonathan Quick made 25 stops for the Rangers, but it wasn’t enough to keep his team from suffering their 13th loss in their last 17 games. Adding to New York’s woes, Chris Kreider was a surprising healthy scratch.
The game was physical and contentious, featuring two fights and plenty of post-whistle scrums, underscoring the rivalry between the two teams.
Key Takeaways
Rangers: The Rangers looked disorganized throughout the game. Their power play failed to convert on four opportunities, and two penalties for having too many men on the ice led to power-play goals for New Jersey. Sloppy passing and costly mistakes left the team scrambling all night.
Devils: New Jersey has been firing on all cylinders since early November, boasting a 16-6-1 record since a shutout loss in Calgary on Nov. 1. Hughes continues to dominate the Rangers, tallying 15 goals in 22 career matchups against them.
Game-Changing Moment
Hughes set the tone early with his first goal just 4:29 into the opening period. The shot, launched from the left circle, took a fortunate deflection off recently acquired Rangers defenseman Will Borgen and found its way into the net, giving New Jersey a lead they never relinquished.
With their strong play on both ends of the ice, the Devils cemented their status as one of the hottest teams in the league, while the Rangers were left searching for answers after another demoralizing loss.
Up Next:
The NHL’s holiday break kicks off on Tuesday. Before that, the Rangers will travel to Tampa Bay for a matchup on Saturday, while the Devils will remain at home to face Carolina on Friday night.
