Prudential Center– The New York Rangers clinched their longest winning streak in eight seasons, dominating the rival New Jersey Devils with stellar performances from Alexis Lafreniere, who banged in two goals, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. However, amidst the victory, the Rangers’ focus was on their exceptional penalty kill, which played a pivotal role in their 5-1 triumph on Thursday, extending their winning streak to nine games.
Reflecting on the game-changing penalty kill, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad emphasized their relentless pressure and ability to disrupt the Devils’ offense. Zibanejad’s sentiment was echoed by team captain Jacob Trouba, who highlighted the team’s renewed attention to detail and strategy on penalty kills, acknowledging its importance in setting the tone for the game.
The Rangers capitalized on the momentum generated by their penalty kill, with Zibanejad scoring on a power play shortly after a successful kill, propelling his team forward and putting the game out of reach. Additionally, contributions from Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, and Artemi Panarin, who notched three assists, solidified the Rangers’ victory.
Despite a late goal from the Devils’ Jack Hughes, Shesterkin’s stellar performance, which included 39 saves and his first assist of the season, secured the win for New York. The Rangers now stand on the cusp of tying their franchise’s longest winning streak, achieved twice in 1972-73 and 1939-40.
Meanwhile, the Devils lamented missed opportunities, particularly on the power play, as they struggled to capitalize on their chances. Captain Nico Hischier acknowledged the need for improvement but remained optimistic about the team’s resilience moving forward.
The atmosphere at the Prudential Center felt akin to Madison Square Garden, with Rangers fans making their presence known, adding to the embarrassment for the Devils on home ice.
UP NEXT:
Looking ahead, both teams are gearing up for their next matchups, with the Rangers facing the Philadelphia Flyers and the Devils hosting the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
