There is no better time than playing the Rangers to break a goal drought.
Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt did just that.
Unfortunately, their efforts were not enough to secure two points in this Hudson River rivalry, as the New Jersey Devils (25-15-4) lost 3-2 in overtime against the New York Rangers (19-20-2), falling to 1-4-1 in their last six games.
“I think at times we force a little bit when things are not in our favor,” Head Coach Sheldon Keefe said post-game. “Overtime is about transition, one team makes a mistake and the other team pounces, as you saw tonight, and there’s been some of that in our losses… clearly you see here tonight there are some things we gotta clean up.”
After heavy offensive momentum from the Rangers in the opening frame, the Devils found their footing and applied strong O-zone pressure on goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
However, Adam Fox capitalized on the interference call dished to Kurtis MacDermid, firing a quick shot off the opening face-off, breaking Jonathan Kovacevic’s stick in the process and bouncing past netminder Jacob Markström for a 1-0 lead.
The Devils went 0/2 on the man advantage in the first period despite heavy pressure on net and finished the period with 11 shots on goal to the Rangers eight.
Just under five minutes into the second period, no one other than Instagram hockey himself tipped the puck in off a wrist shot from Brett Pesce at the point to tie the game up at 1-1.
Jack Hughes *continues* to torch the Rangers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7vKQCaF3UP
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 10, 2025
This goal marked Jack Hughes’s 16th goal of the season and 5th goal in less than three games played against the Rangers, becoming the only player to score 10 regular season goals against Shesterkin.
Midway through the second, a big hit from Dougie Hamilton on Will Cuylle left Jesper Bratt on the puck as he streaked down the left side and fired a shot past Shesterkin’s blocker side, giving the Devils a 2-1 lead.
BIG HIT ➡️ BIG SNIPE 🎯
Dougie Hamilton lays an open ice hit, the Devils gain possession, and Jesper Bratt scores a beauty pic.twitter.com/UnoB1NjTDP
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 10, 2025
Unfortunately for the Devils, Artemi Panarin tied the game back up on the power play, finding a perfect rebound and beating a sprawling Markström with just over two minutes left in the middle frame.
The Rangers entered the third eager to find the go-ahead goal, spending most of the opening ten minutes in the Devils’ zone.
The Devils took an ill-timed penalty late in the third, but their penalty kill finally went to work, generating two short-handed opportunities and drawing a slashing penalty to set up 4-on-4 hockey and an unsuccessful abbreviated power play.
Markström continued to be remarkable in net, continuing to be the difference maker for the Devils.
With the clock winding down, the score remained locked at 2-2, sending the game to overtime.
The Rangers had a number of chances and were robbed by Markström, until a 2-on-1 that had Sam Carrick in the perfect spot, beating Markström and securing a 3-2 win over the Devils.
Through their six-game road trip, the Devils have averaged 19 goals against and went 1/16 on the power play.
“We just haven’t been sharp since coming back from Christmas…” Keefe said about the road trip. “Our execution has been off. Passing’s been off, just haven’t been smooth. Whether it’s through neutral zone or through that offensive zone to be able to hang onto it… just haven’t been quite crisp like we were before Christmas. Trying to put a finger on what exactly that is.”
The Devils will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, Jan. 11, as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at home. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
