Rangers Trounce Devils

Via NHL.com

The NY Rangers returned to the Garden after two intense games on the road in Winnipeg and Minnesota and won this game against the Devils in the first period. It was during the first that the Broadway Blueshirts exploded for three goals on six shots against Cory Schneider.

Rick Nash, Keith Yandle and Dominic Moore all lit the lamp behind the Devils net and the Rangers built a lead that they would never relinquish.

Derek Stepan’s shorthanded breakaway goal right before the end of the second period increased the lead to 4-0. In the third, Derick Brassard and Dominic Moore finished off the scoring for the Blueshirts. Tuomo Ruutu finally scored one for the Devils with just over three minutes left in the game.

A little more on Tuomo Ruutu, as he is a cheap, sneaky player. Upset over a slash by Marc Staal, Ruutu waited until the final buzzer was about to go off, to slew foot Staal to the ice from behind when he was not expecting it. He had almost the entire third period to get back at Staal and he chose then to retaliate. Yeah, real tough guy that Tuomo Ruutu is.

Cory Schneider was lifted after giving up three goals on six shots and Keith Kinkaid took over and played well, as he gave up three goals on 26 Ranger shots.

The Devils are going nowhere fast and will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.

Scoring:    

NYR: Rick Nash (42) Assisted by Mats Zuccarello & Keith Yandle

NYR: Keith Yandle (6) Assisted by Chris Kreider & Derek Stepan

NYR: Dominic Moore (8) Assisted by Tanner Glass & Jesper Fast

NYR: Derek Stepan (14) SHG Assisted by Rick Nash & Ryan McDonagh

NYR: Derick Brassard (18) Assisted by Marty St. Louis & Marc Staal

NYR: Dominic Moore (9) Assisted by Ryan McDonagh & Dan Girardi

NJD: Tuomo Ruutu (8) Assisted by Mark Fraser & Jordin Tootoo

Team Stats                              NJD                               NYR

Shots on Goal                         36                                  32

Power Play                              0 for 4                           0 for 1

Hits                                         26                                  20

Giveaways                              7                                    6

Takeaways                             2                                    15

Face Off Wins                        27                                  36

Blocked Shots                         10                                  21

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: Keith Yandle: 1 Goal 1 Assist

2^nd Star: Dominic Moore: 2 Goals

1^st Star: Henrik Lundqvist: 35 Saves on 36 Shots for a SV% of .972

Goalie Stats:

Cory Schneider: 3 Saves on 6 Shots for a SV% of .500

Keith Kinkaid: 23 Saves on 26 Shots for a SV% of .885

Henrik Lundqvist: 35 Saves on 36 Shots for a SV% of .972

Broadway Bits:                                                                                                  

Coming into this game against the Devils, the Rangers were ranked seventh in the NHL is the Penalty Kill, at (84.3%)

With their 50^th victory in this game against the Devils, the Rangers have reached the 50^th win plateau for the fourth time in franchise history. The other times were: 1991-92, 1993-94 and 2011-12

This is also the fifth time in Ranger history that the Blueshirts have reached at least 107 points. This matches their fifth highest point total in franchise history.

The made it to 109 points in 1970-71, 1971-72 and 2011-12. Their highest point total ever, was 112 points in 1993-94.

Five different Rangers scored at least one goal and 13 different Rangers recorded at least one point in the game

The Rangers lead the NHL in first period goals and in first period goal differential (plus 27) this season

The Rangers are now 34-0-1 when leading after two periods this season

The Rangers killed off four power plays against the Devils and scored their ninth shorthanded goal of the season.        

Dominic Moore had two goals and won 11 out of 17 faceoffs

Keith Yandle had a goal and an assist, recorded four shots on goal and posted a plus 2 rating in 20:35 of ice time

Rick Nash scored his 42^nd goal, had a shorthanded assist, seven shots on goal and posted a plus 2 rating in the game

Derek Stepan had a goal and an assist, five shots on goal and posted a plus 2 rating in 18:13 of ice time

Ryan McDonagh had two assists, including his 100^th career NHL assist, and posted a plus 3 rating in 20:26 of ice time

Derick Brassard had a goal and won eight of 11 faceoffs

Mats Zuccarello had an assist, which his ninth point (three goals and six assists) in the past nine games

Chris Kreider had an assist and two takeaways in 16:14 of ice time

Martin St. Louis had an assist and posted a plus 1 rating in 14:46 of ice time

Marc Staal had an assist and posted a plus 1 rating in 19:55 of ice time

Dan Girardi had an assist, two blocked shots and posted a plus 2 rating in 19:11 of ice time

Tanner Glass had an assist, had two hits and posted a plus 1 rating in 11:07 of ice time

Jesper Fast had an assist and posted a plus 2 rating in 11:02 of ice time