Devils Drop Last Home Game of the Season

(Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)

The New Jersey Devils skated for the final time in the 2014-15 season at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night. Unfortunately it did not end the way the Devils hoped.  They played against the New York Rangers a lot harder than they did on Saturday night but came up on the losing side again.

In the blink of an eye the Devils found themselves down 2-0 in the first. A turnover right in front of Cory Schneider led to the first Rangers goal and a power play led to the second. Speaking of power plays, the Devils played a very undisciplined first two periods and took seven penalties over the first 40 minutes, including an almost two minute five on three. At least the team’s penalty kill was up to the task, holding the Rangers to only the one power play goal.

The Devils got one back while on the power play via Patrik Elias in the first and kept it close right up until the last minute of the third period. However, just as with most of their games this season, the Devils came up just short, losing the game 4-2.

To rub salt in the wound of the Devils, the Rangers win clinched the President’s Trophy for them, and the Prudential Center was populated with many New York fans. As the Devils players skated to center ice to salute their fan base they were met with mostly boos — not a fun way to close out your last home game for the team.

The Devils players noticed the atmosphere and derision.  Goalie Cory Schneider spoke of the boos after the game, saying, “You obviously hear it. We think it’s the Rangers’ fan, and if we want our fans around, we should win.”

Those are stinging words but they’re true. If anyone has felt that frustration for the entire season it’s been Schneider, who played another strong game Tuesday turning aside 36 shots en route to the loss.

The Devils will close out their season in Florida with games against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday.